A torrid opening 45 minutes from striker Simeon Jackson paved the way for a record-breaking victory for Canada against hosts St. Lucia on matchday three of CONCACAF’s second round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying on Friday.
The Canadians cruised to a 7-0 win - their largest victory in an official match - powered by a first-half hat-trick from Jackson, the 24-year-old attacker who had previously scored just three times for his national side.
Olivier Occean and Iain Hume also got in on the action, with both scoring two goals.
Jackson opened the scoring in the 19th minute, latching onto a through ball from former Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency defender Adam Straith and chipping St. Lucia goalkeeper Pessius Polius. The Norwich City FC striker doubled his tally eight minutes later, again receiving a ball from Straith before slotting it home from within the six-yard box.
Canada added a third goal 10 minutes before the halftime whistle, with Jackson breaking in from the wing and seeing his shot deflected by a St. Lucia defender and knocked home by Occean.
Jackson then scored his third just moments later, pouncing on a rebound after Hume had his shot saved. Jackson's third goal made him only the second player in Canada’s history – and the first since Alex Bunbury in 1992 – to score three goals in a World Cup qualifier.
Occean gave Canada their fifth goal of the match just minutes into the second half, rounding the ‘keeper and easily placing the ball into the awaiting St. Lucia goal.
With 20 minutes left in the match, Hume netted Canada’s sixth and seventh goals to seal the scoreline.
D.C. United attacker Dwayne De Rosario served as Canada's captain and came off in the 55th minute. Also starting were Chivas USA's Ante Jazic and Toronto FC's Julian de Guzman.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson also featured from the start, but was forced out of the match after suffering an injury in the 17th minute. TFC's Terry Dunfield replaced Johnson.
TFC youngster Ashtone Morgan made his Canada debut as a second-half substitute for Jackson and got his first assist, feeding Hume for the final tally of the match.
The victory keeps Canada perfect at nine points after three games played in Group D, with their next match coming up next Tuesday, October 11, at BMO Field in Toronto against Puerto Rico. Also on Friday, hosts Puerto Rico earned a 1-1 draw with St. Kitts & Nevis.
Scoring Summary:
19' - CAN - Simeon Jackson
27' - CAN - Simeon Jackson
35' - CAN - Olivier Occean
39' - CAN - Simeon Jackson
52' - CAN - Olivier Occean
73' - CAN - Iain Hume
86' - CAN - Iain Hume
Misconduct Summary:
None
St. Lucia
Pessius Polius, Bernard Edward, Kurt Frederick, Vernus Abbott (Andreaus Willie, 46’), Enderson George, Tremain Paul, Guy George (Kevin Edward, 46’), Cliff Valcin, Pernal Williams, Germal Valcin, Cleaveland Simon (Jamil Joseph, 46’)
Subs not used: Fabian Joseph, Rickson Augustin, Teran John, Barry Felix, Justin Joseph, Caster James
Canada
Kenny Stamatopoulos, Nik Ledgerwood, Adam Straith, Ante Jazic, Julian de Guzman, Iain Hume, Will Johnson (Terry Dunfield, 17’), Simeon Jackson (Ashtone Morgan, 72’), David Edgar, Olivier Occean, Dwayne De Rosario (Josh Simpson, 55’)
Subs not used: Lars Hirschfeld, Joseph Di Chiara, Tosaint Ricketts, Jonathan Beaulieu-Borgault
