Jonathan David hat trick leads Canada over Qatar for historic 1st win in men's World Cup history

When in doubt, have no doubt. Go with your horses. Go with your heroes.

Canada’s men won the first World Cup match in their program’s history, demolishing Qatar 6-0 in front of a deafening B.C. Place crowd on a glorious Thursday afternoon.

Their first goal came in the 16th minute from Cyle Larin, the 31-year-old veteran who had earned the start after he’d scored as a substitute in last week’s draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Now he’d scored again, this one from close range after Jonathan David’s long volley rebounded off the chest of the helpless Qatari goalkeeper.

In a stadium that was dressed nearly entirely in red, the release, the relief, threatened to take off the roof.

David scored next, screaming home a volley from distance in the 29th minute. He was chased by his thrilled teammates into a corner of a suddenly historic ground and engulfed in what felt like a now-inevitable victory.

The result was no longer in question after Homam Ahmed took down Tajon Buchanan on a breakaway and Qatar was reduced to 10 men.

Larin’s and David’s shared place in Canadian soccer history was doubtless, too. They combined for a third goal before the end of a dream first half after David bundled home Larin’s saved header.  

Now David had 41 goals for Canada, extending his all-time men’s national record. He first claimed it by breaking Larin’s former mark. Larin, still second on the list, had 32.

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The second half was seared into the side’s, and the country’s, collective memory for far less happy reasons.

Ismael Koné, Canada’s Man