Recap and Highlights: Canada dominate Cayman Islands in record-setting victory

An eight minute hat trick from substitute Lucas Cavallini helped Canada set a new men’s national team record for biggest victory on Monday night, as they beat Cayman Islands 11-0.

Several players scored their first international goals in this one, including Frank Sturing. Five minutes into his debut, Sturing volleyed home the opener following a corner kick, and the floodgates were opened.

Nine minutes later, Canada’s number nine Cyle Larin doubled the lead. After taking a touch, Larin calmly slotted the ball past the keeper for his fourth goal in two matches.

David Wotherspoon made it 3-0 eleven minutes later, turning around a defender before smashing home his first international goal for Canada. While Canada were expected to win this match, and fairly comfortably, this match already looked out of reach just 25 minutes in.

Just two minutes later, Alphonso Davies got in on the action, firing home from 12 yards. It was his first national team goal since his dramatic winner against the United States at BMO Field in October 2019.

The three points were sealed by this point, but Canada still needed to increase their goal difference atop their World Cup Qualifying group, and they continued to make a huge statement.

Mark-Anthony Kaye made it five in the 32nd minute, redirecting a cross through the legs of the Cayman Islands goalkeeper. It was his first international goal, and as you can see, he looked thrilled.

Canada’s sixth and final goal of the opening half came in the 42nd minute. Alistair Johnston curled a shot into the top corner from close range for his first for Canada.

The first period of play would end 6-0, as Canada, clearly the better team in this one, looked to break the men’s national team record of an 8-0 victory.

After an 18-minute dry spell, Kaye would score his second of the match in the 63rd minute to get Canada going again. He took a touch before firing a shot into the goal to put Canada within one of equalizing the record.

Lucas Cavallini, moments after coming off the bench, would be the player to tie the record in the 68th minute, scoring the first of three goals for the Vancouver Whitecaps striker.

After setting records all season long with Bayern Munich, it was fitting that Alphonso Davies would be the player to score Canada’s record-setting ninth goal, finding the back of the net for the second time in the 73rd minute. After Mark-Anthony Kaye’s penalty — and his follow up shot — were saved, Davies came charging in to volley home the second rebound.

Lucas Cavallini, not content with just the one goal, scored two in three minutes shortly after to rub salt in the wound. There were just eight minutes between his first and third goal, and Canada also scored another goal in between. Overall, Canada scored five in just 13 minutes of the second half.

Cavallini’s hat trick was the eighth in men’s national team history and, incredibly, the fifth in their past eleven matches, according to Waking The Red’s Martyn Bailey. It’s also Cavallini’s second, having scored his first against Cuba in 2019.

Canada wouldn’t find the net again in the final 14+ minutes, and this match would end 11-0, beating the previous men’s record of 8-0, set in 2018 against the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Canada also dominated this one in the shot count, picking up FOURTY-FOUR shots, while not even allowing one from the Cayman Islands. Canada were magnificent on both ends of the pitch.

Canada’s next match is scheduled for June 5th against Aruba, another World Cup Qualifier. Three days later, they’ll also take on Suriname.