Canada vs United States

Tim Hortons Field is the venue as Canada and the United States go head-to-head in an evenly-poised CONCACAF World Cup qualifying showdown.

Back-to-back low-scoring draws with Mexico and Jamaica back in October now look like a remote memory as Canada head into proceedings riding on a four-game winning streak in ongoing World Cup qualifying. What’s more, the ‘Canucks’ remain the only side in the CONCACAF confederation yet to suffer defeat in this qualifying cycle (W5, D4), mainly thanks to their air-tight defence. Indeed, John Herdman’s men have conceded a competition joint-low five goals from their nine qualifying fixtures so far, keeping a clean sheet twice in their last three such contests. But after Canada failed to hold the USA at bay in their previous three competitive H2Hs (D1, L2), there’s a reason for concern among the home faithful. Yet, a run of four successive World Cup qualifying wins at home should help douse those fears.

In the meantime, the United States eked out a 1-0 home victory over El Salvador last time out, courtesy of Antonee Robinson’s strike early in the second half. With their unbeaten streak in the ongoing cycle now up to four matches (W3, D1), the ‘USMNT’ will aim to leapfrog Canada at the summit with a win here. That prospect looks a bit far-fetched, as they’ve only won one of their seven World Cup qualifiers on Canadian soil (D1, L5), though it was in their most recent visit to their neighbours’ backyard back in 1997. Furthermore, Gregg Berhalter’s men have blown hot and cold on the road lately, picking up just one triumph from their last four World Cup qualifiers on hostile turf (D2, L1). A common denominator in that spread of games? A blunt frontline that has failed to score twice in those four fixtures.