It was a busy weekend for Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s internationals, with six players appearing for their respective national teams. See below for the full roundup.
GHAZAL SHINES IN RETURN TO PHARAOHS
Nearly four years after making his last appearance for Egypt, Aly Ghazal started and played 57 minutes in a dominant 6-0 win over Niger on Saturday in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
Ghazal excelled in a hybrid role for Egypt, playing as the defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation while also dropping between the centre backs to form a 3-4-3 formation while in possession. And he was singled out as the man of the match by new Egypt head coach Javier Aguirre.
Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah had two goals and two assists in the victory.
Egypt now sit second in their Africa Cup of Nations group with three points from two matches.
CANADA OPEN CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING WITH A BANG
Three Whitecaps FC players appeared for Canada on Sunday in a dominant 8-0 win over US Virgin Islands, Canada’s most lopsided victory of all time.
Alphonso Davies and Doneil Henry both went the distance for Canada, while Marcel de Jong played the final 29 minutes as a second-half sub. Davies recorded two assists on the afternoon, setting up both of Cyle Larin’s goals with crosses from the left.
Henry, for his part, anchored a two-man back line in Canada’s 2-5-3 formation. It was Henry’s first appearance for the Canadian national team in nearly two years.
KAMARA, DOMINGUEZ PLAY 90 MINUTES
Kei Kamara and Roberto Dominguez both played 90 minutes for their respective national teams, with Kamara’s Sierra Leone falling 1-0 to Ethiopia in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and Dominguez’s El Salvador defeating Montserrat 2-1 in Concacaf Nations League qualifying.
Dominguez will remain with El Salvador for their friendly against Brazil on Tuesday in D.C. before returning to Vancouver.
Following the international break, Whitecaps FC return to action on Saturday in a marquee matchup against Seattle Sounders FC (7 p.m. PT at BC Place - limited tickets available).
