Canada put six past 9 man Qatar to record first win

Group B

Canada 6-0 Qatar

Ismael Kone’s serious-looking injury left Canada manager Jesse Marsch in tears and overshadowed their first World Cup finals win as they thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0.

With the co-hosts already leading 3-0 in Vancouver and with a man advantage, Qatar’s Assim Omer Madibo and Kone both challenged for the ball, resulting in a lengthy stoppage and the Canadian being carried off on a stretcher.

Madibo was originally shown a yellow card, but it was upgraded to a red after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.

But with his name being chanted by the Canadian supporters, ex-Watford midfielder Kone was able to sit up and wave as he was carried around the side of the pitch while inhaling painkillers.

Canada are now likely to reach the knockout rounds, but the injury to Kone is a huge blow to their prospects of a run beyond the last 32.

The horrific injury marred what was otherwise a historic occasion for Canada.

Cyle Larin opened the scoring with a poacher’s finish in the 16th minute, netting his second in as many games, before Jonathan David scored the first of his hat-trick 13 minutes later.

Qatar were then shown the first of their two red cards as Homam El Amin was sent off for a professional foul on Tajon Buchanan in the 33rd minute.

David netted his second in first-half added time.

Kone’s injury overshadowed the second half: When Nathan Saliba curled in a free-kick to make it 4-0 in the 63rd minute, he held up the injured midfielder’s shirt – a gesture that was met by huge cheers from the crowd.

Canada added a fifth with 15 minutes remaining as Mohammad Al Mannai sliced Jacob Shaffelburg’s effort into his own goal.

David rounded off a superb hat-trick in stoppage time by latching on to Buchanan’s effort before driving beyond Mahmoud Abunada.

Victory by a six-goal margin means Canada sit top of group B – level on points with Switzerland, but three goals better off.