Buchanan's brace lifts Canada to 6-0 Gold Cup win over Honduras

VANCOUVER - Tajon Buchanan notched a brace and Canada opened its Gold Cup run with a decisive 6-0 victory over Honduras at B.C. Place on Tuesday.
Local product Niko Sigur got the 30th-ranked Canadians on the board in the 27th minute with his first goal for the senior national team and Tani Oluwaseyi followed with a tally in first-half injury time.
Buchanan put away goals in the 48th and 65th minutes, substitute Promise David scored in the 75th, and Nathan Saliba sealed the win with a goal in the 90th minute.
Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair stopped all three on-target shots he faced from No. 75 Honduras.
Canada will return to action on June 21 when the squad faces No. 90 Curaçao in Houston. The team will wrap up Group B play against No. 81 El Salvador on June 24.
The winner and runner-up from each of the four groups advance to the knockout stage in the 16-team tournament. The finale will be held in Houston on July 6.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch was suspended for Tuesday's match, the first of a two-game suspension he received when he was sent off at the CONCACAF Nations League third-place game in March. He was replaced by Mauro Biello on the touchline.
The Canadians settled into the game midway through the first half and took charge when Sigur scored in the 27th minute.
The 21-year-old passed off to Jonathan David at the top of the penalty area and, when David chipped it right back, Sigur sent a right-footed shot sailing in past Honduras 'keeper Edrick Menjivar.
It was his first goal for the national team and came in his sixth appearance.
Oluwaseyi doubled the lead in the third minute of first-half injury time, collecting a pass from Richie Lareya and quickly blasting a shot into the top corner of the net from the side of the six-yard box.
He celebrated by running to the touchline and grabbing the jersey of Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe, who's away from the team after suffering a torn Achilles tendon last week.
Canada controlled 64.4 per cent possession across the first half, outshot the visitors 10-1 and held a 3-0 edge in on-target shots.
The offensive onslaught continued early in the second half.
Lareya crossed a ball into Oluwaseyi and the Minnesota United forward back heeled it to Buchanan. Stationed at the side of the six-yard box, Buchanan popped a shot up and in under the crossbar to give Canada a 3-0 lead in the 48th minute.
The 26-year-old forward struck again in the 65th off a corner.
Mathieu Choiniere swung a ball in and Oluwaseyi jumped up, trying to head it on net. The Honduran 'keeper made the stop, but couldn't cover the ball and Buchanan tucked it in for his second goal of the night.
Promise David came on in the 71st minute for Oluwaseyi and quickly made an impact, scoring in the 75th.
With less than a minute to go in regulation, Saliba fired a left-footed shot into the top corner of the Honduras net to seal the score at 6-0.
Canada won the Gold Cup in 2000 and finished third in 2002. When the tournament was last held in 2023, the country lost to the United States in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

USA Today

14 minutes ago

• USA Today

77 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 77?

With 77 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 77. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals and are now 11 weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 77 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 77? Cardinals players to wear No. 77 No. 77 is retired. The last player to wear it was tackle Stan Mauldin. He played for the Chicago Cardinals in the 40s. He played in 1946 and was a starter on the team's only championship in 1947. Then, in 1948, he played in the season opener and tragically died of a heart attack. Because of his contribution to the championship and the tragic nature of his death, the team retired the number. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Yahoo

32 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Panthers' Sam Bennett Reportedly Rules Out Division Rival as Free Agency Option

Panthers' Sam Bennett Reportedly Rules Out Division Rival as Free Agency Option originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is poised to be one of the most sought-after players on the market this summer. Advertisement Bennett is coming off a breakout season in which he scored 51 points in 76 regular-season games, capping it up with a dominant playoff run in which he scored 15 goals and helped the Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cups. After completing his four-year, $17.7 million contract, Bennett will enter unrestricted free agency on July 1, barring an agreement for a contract extension with Florida before that date. According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, however, the Conn Smythe-winning forward has no plans to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs if he gets to market. 'Hearing Toronto will not be on Sam Bennett's list of free agent destinations, if unable to come to terms with Florida and he becomes a UFA,' Strickland reported on X. Advertisement Despite being a Toronto-area native and linked to the Leafs in recent rumors, Bennett appears uninterested in returning home, and perhaps not even to his nation at all. Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett has reportedly ruled out signing with any Canadian Hamilton-Imagn Images Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects acknowledged that while Bennett returning to Florida is far from a fait accompli, the forward has ruled out signing with a Canadian franchise. "Lots of speculations that Sam Bennett re-signing in FLA is a foregone conclusion," Robinson wrote on X. "But I'm told the two sides haven't talked extension in weeks. Teams continue to prepare sizeable offers should he make it to July 1st. Appears his preference is to stay in USA." Advertisement Daily Faceoff projects Bennett to sign a six-year, $38.4 million deal during the offseason, with an annual cap hit of $6.4 million. Related: NHL Insider Reveals Move that 'Makes Sense' for Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies Related: Darren Dreger Predicts What John Tavares' Next Maple Leafs Contract Could Look Like This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.

NBC Sports

44 minutes ago

• NBC Sports

Chuba Hubbard wants to play Olympic flag football for Canada

Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard hails from Edmonton, Alberta. And he's already thinking about wearing a flag with a maple leaf in the middle during the 2028 Olympics. David Newton of recently asked Hubbard whether he wants to represent Canada in the flag-football tournament. 'Hell yeah!'' Hubbard said. 'I don't know the process or anything, but I plan to still be in this league and thrive in 2028. So, if they want me to become a part of it, it would be an honor.'' The desire flows from Hubbard's boyhood goal to become an Olympic sprinter. Football changes his priorities. Could a team of Canadian NFL players compete with an American team? 'You're asking the wrong guy,'' Hubbard said, smiling. 'I'm going to say we're going to win no matter what.'' However the Canadian team fares, coach Chad Palmer has already made clear his belief that NFL players will outshine career flag-football players. So if Hubbard wants in, he'll likely have a spot. As long as no one else from the Panthers has dibs on the one Olympic assignment per NFL team.