HAMILTON — Marius Aiyenero's hat trick helped Canada all but clinch a berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a commanding 7-1 win over Curaçao in CONCACAF U-17 men's qualifying play Thursday.
A win or draw against host Bermuda on Sunday and Canada qualifies for the U-17 World Cup, which runs Nov. 5-27 in Qatar. The Canadians (3-0-0) could also qualify with a loss, given their considerable advantage in goal difference (plus-20 compared to plus-one) in Group A over Curaçao (2-1-0), which closes out against Anguilla on Sunday.
The CONCACAF qualifying format is a single-round format with 35 participating teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean split into eight groups. The group winners qualify for the newly expanded U-17 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams and take place on an annual basis between 2025 and 2029.
Canada has qualified for eight of the 19 editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup but has yet to win a game at the tournament. Canada has scored just 11 goals — one of which was an Argentine own goal — while conceding 70 at the FIFA U-17 tournament.
The 16-year-old Aiyenero, who plays for Los Angeles FC 2 in MLS Next Pro league, has five goals at the CONCACAF qualifier. A dual national, he has also played for the U.S. under-15 side.
Kevin Khan scored twice, Shola Jimoh and Aidan Evans added a single for Canada, which led 3-1 at the half at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire Parish.
Jerremy Ortela replied for Curaçao.
The young Canadians defeated Turks and Caicos 6-0 and Anguilla 8-0 in their first two outings while Curaçao downed Turks and Caicos 2-0 and Bermuda 6-1.
Canada's senior men are ranked 31st in the world compared to No. 91 for Curaçao
Canada coach Mike Vitulano made six changes to his starting lineup with captain Richard Chukwu among the incumbents.
Canada had a chance in the first minute via a Thomas Fortier free kick but his shot, which may have been just wide, was saved by Curaçao goalkeeper Giuliano Bonevacia. Fortier had another set piece 20 minutes later but failed to find a teammate with his delivery.
At the other end, Ortela rattled the Canadian crossbar with a long-range free kick in the 23rd minute.
Aiyenero opened the scoring in the 27th minute after a low cross by Aghilas Sadek bounced off Jimoh. The ball landed in front of Aiyenero, who shielded it from a defender and then pivoted to knock it home from close range.
Khan, who is with Feyenoord's U-17 team in the Netherlands, made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Bonevacia, a member of the Ajax U17 side, stopped Andre Ali-Gayapersad's shot but the rebound went straight to Khan, who took advantage.
Ortela, who is with Inter Miami's U-17 side, pulled one back for Curaçao from the penalty spot in stoppage time after going down in the Canadian penalty box. Replays suggested contact with defender Sergei Kozlovskiy was minimal.
Aiyenero restored Canada's two-goal lead before the half ended, taking a pass on the edge of the penalty box and firing a shot past the 'keeper. He got his third in the 47th minute, tapping home a Khan pass while unmarked in front of goal
Jimoh who plays for York United FC in the CPL, made it 5-1 with an easy tap-in in the 54th minute. Khan scored his second in the 64th with a low shot to the corner of the goal and Evans, a substitute, added an acrobatic final goal off a corner in the 88th, popping the ball off his chest and looping into the goal after a miscue by the 'keeper.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2025
The Canadian Press
