TORONTO — Jonathan David scored in the 12th minute and Dayne St. Clair kept a clean sheet as Canada beat Chile 1-0 on Saturday at BMO Field, opening a new four-year cycle with a win in front of 23,310 fans.

The Canada vs Chile friendly was Canada’s first match on home soil since its historic run to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where the co-hosts fell 3-0 to Morocco in Houston. Chile, ranked No. 49 in the world, missed the tournament after finishing bottom of CONMEBOL qualifying with two wins from 18 matches.

David wore the captain’s armband with Alphonso Davies absent on a delayed honeymoon. The goal came after Ralph Priso launched a long ball to Jacob Shaffelburg, whose cross found Cyle Larin. Goalkeeper Christian Bravo stopped Larin’s initial shot, but the rebound floated across the goalmouth and David tapped it in with his left foot.

“I’m always expecting to score every game,” David said. “So I asked them for it to be prepared.”

David raised a No. 13 Derek Cornelius jersey as he returned to the sideline. Cornelius, a defender, was hurt during a training session earlier in the week.

Canada vs Chile turns chippy as Chile finish with nine men

The match billed as “The Homecoming” began with a ceremony honouring the World Cup squad, which reached the knockout stage for the first time and beat South Africa in the Round of 32.

Chile’s night unraveled before halftime. Midfielder Lucas Cepeda was shown a red card in the 35th minute after getting tangled with Canadian defender Richie Laryea. As Cepeda was pulled down, his leg came upward and his boot caught Laryea on the side of the head, drawing blood near the eyebrow. Laryea stayed in the game after medical attention.

Canada caught a break moments later when Niko Sigur was knocked down and St. Clair was caught out of his area. Chile’s Jonathan Villagra had a chance to hit the ball into an empty net from distance but put it over the bar.

Chile went down to nine men four minutes into the second half. Gabriel Suazo received a second yellow card after his forearm caught Sigur in the head as they jumped for a ball.

Canada pressed with the two-man advantage, but the Chilean backline held firm. A Laryea strike from distance in the 84th minute hit the post.

“We wanted to come back here in Toronto after the World Cup to say thank you to the fans,” Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere said. “I think that’s the best way that we did it — by a win.”

Canada vs Chile: What’s next for both teams

The Canada vs Chile result extends Canada’s strong record at BMO Field, where the national team’s last defeat came nearly three years ago against Jamaica. Canada has lost only once in its last eight matches on home soil, a defeat to Switzerland at the World Cup.

Canada also extended its unbeaten run against South American opposition to four matches, having beaten Venezuela 2-0 in November 2025 and drawn with Colombia and Ecuador late last year.

According to TSN, head coach Jesse Marsch said Canada has set a long-term goal of reaching the top 24 in the world rankings as it looks to qualify for the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

Next up is an Oct. 3 friendly in Montreal against No. 50 Peru. Canada will visit the 16th-ranked United States on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn. The team has three friendlies scheduled before entering the next CONCACAF Nations League campaign, where Canada is automatically through to the quarter-finals.

For Chile, the Canada vs Chile match marked the start of a rebuilding process under Nicolas Cordova, who remains in charge on an interim basis despite taking just 11 points from a possible 54 in qualifying. Cordova has overseen a more encouraging run, winning five of Chile’s last seven fixtures, including two wins over Peru. Chile has scored in five consecutive matches and scored 10 goals across its last five games.

Chile is without its most recognizable recent star. Alexis Sanchez was left out of the squad during the national team’s generational overhaul. Five Chilean players could make their senior debuts, while Ben Brereton Diaz arrived as the highest-scoring Chilean selected for the window with 10 international goals.

Canada vs Chile squads hit by absences

Canada was missing several key players beyond Davies. First-choice World Cup goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was unavailable for personal reasons. Cornelius had a lower-body injury, Jeevan Badwal dealt with a hamstring problem, and Moise Bombito was recovering from tibia surgery. Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller and Jonathan Osorio were also absent.

Chile’s confirmed XI featured Vigouroux in goal, with Faundez, Villagra, Roman and Suazo in defense; Pizarro and Marcelino in midfield; and Osorio, Perez, Cepeda and Tapia in attack.

Canada’s confirmed XI lined up in a 4-4-2: St. Clair in goal; Sigur, De Fougerolles, Priso and Laryea in defense; Saliba, Choiniere, Buchanan and Shaffelburg in midfield; and David and Larin up top.

Jovan Ivanisevic made his national men’s team debut as substitutes came on in the 62nd minute. Junior Hoilett, in his final appearance with the squad, subbed in during the 76th minute and was honoured for his 11-year run with the national team after the game.

“I was emotional, man,” Hoilett said. “I was trying to hold it together when I first stepped on the field. It was a special moment.”

Richard Chukwu also made his national men’s team debut in the 88th minute.

The Canada vs Chile fixture carried significance beyond the scoreline, with both national teams using the match to develop squads for the next international cycle. Canada is trying to maintain momentum from its best-ever World Cup campaign, while Chile is attempting to rebuild after a difficult qualifying period.

For viewers who missed the match, BolaVIP reported the game aired in the United States on FOX Soccer Plus, with streaming through Fubo and FOX One.

Canada’s next competitive challenge comes in the November knockout stage of the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League A quarterfinals. For Chile, the road back to the World Cup begins with rebuilding under Cordova, with the September-October window serving as the first step.

Related Articles

• From Scholarships to Skills: Global Push to Train Youth
• Ikere Chamber’s NACCIMA Admission Validates Vision
• iPhone 18 Pro Max Review: Price, Specs, Verdict
• Court Strikes Out Oyefusi’s Suit Against Rhodes-Vivour, ADC
• Mexico vs Colombia: Márquez Debut Ends in Friendly

No. 8 Alabama opened SEC play at home Saturday night and led South Carolina 35-10 at halftime inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, turning a tight early game into a rout with three second-quarter touchdowns. The South Carolina vs Alabama matchup, broadcast on ESPN, marked the Gamecocks’ first road game of the season.

Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) scored 35 points in the first half, its most against an SEC opponent in the Kalen DeBoer era. The Crimson Tide entered as a 12.5-point favorite, and the Kalshi prediction market priced an Alabama win at $0.82 per share before kickoff.

South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) arrived in Tuscaloosa reeling from a 41-34 home loss to Mississippi State in which the Gamecocks blew a 16-point lead and surrendered 27 straight second-half points. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers was outplayed by Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor in that defeat.

THE FIRST QUARTER SET THE TONE

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell ended the opening period with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Coleman-Williams, giving the Tide a 14-0 lead. A 39-yard touchdown run by Trae’shawn Brown was erased by a Rico Scott holding call, but Alabama still converted a first down and kept possession.

South Carolina got on the board early in the second quarter when Malik Orsan hit a 34-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3. That was as close as the Gamecocks would get.

Russell found Coleman-Williams again at the 7:22 mark of the second quarter, this time for 42 yards. Coleman-Williams finished the first half with four catches on four targets for 86 yards and two scores.

ALABAMA’S SECOND QUARTER EXPLOSION (South Carolina vs Alabama)

A one-handed Josh Ford touchdown catch capped an Alabama drive that included a 39-yard EJ Crowell run and a 36-yard Russell connection with Noah Rogers. The Tide led 28-3. Crowell, who entered the game listed as “good to go” after injury questions, was Alabama’s leading rusher with 41 yards on three carries at that point.

Then came the play that broke the game open. Red Morgan intercepted Sellers and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, giving Alabama a 35-3 lead with 2:20 left before halftime. It was Alabama’s second game this season with an interception returned for a score.

Sellers answered with his first touchdown pass of the day, a 41-yard strike to Nyckk Harbor with 35 seconds remaining in the half. Dijon Lee was flagged for holding Harbor on the play, but the penalty was declined. Alabama took a 35-10 lead into the locker room and got the ball to start the third quarter.

DeBoer told ESPN at halftime that Russell looked “comfortable back there” and credited the offensive line and receivers. “We’ve got to keep the pedal down,” DeBoer said. “It’s all about execution.”

SELLERS UNDER SCRUTINY

The first-half interception was the latest chapter in a difficult stretch for Sellers, who has not improved since a six-game run at the end of the 2024 season that briefly made South Carolina look like a College Football Playoff contender. Since that Clemson game in 2024, the Gamecocks are 2-10 against Power 4 competition.

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, now 35-31 overall and 16-25 in SEC play in his sixth season, heard “FIRE BEAMER” chants during last week’s loss. Beamer and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles spent the week explaining why Sellers remains the starter over sophomore backup Cutter Woods.

The Gamecocks have not beaten Alabama since 2010 and have not won inside Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2004. They nearly knocked off the Crimson Tide in each of the past two seasons but could not hold fourth-quarter leads in either game.

Injury notes hung over the matchup. South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who made his season debut against Mississippi State after a preseason back injury, was limited to 14 snaps before his back flared up again in the fourth quarter. He was listed as probable. Defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy was ruled out after playing only four snaps against the Bulldogs.

Alabama safety Bray Hubbard left with an injury and went to the locker room before returning to the field wearing a sleeve on his right knee.

WHAT’S NEXT (South Carolina vs Alabama)

Alabama’s offense stalled to open the second half, punting after a 22-yard connection between Russell and Marshall Pritchett failed to ignite a drive. South Carolina’s first third-quarter possession ended in a punt after Terrance Green stopped Sellers on a 5-yard rush. Ryan Coleman-Williams returned the punt 17 yards, including a hurdle, to the Alabama 31-yard line.

For South Carolina, the second half represented a chance to avoid a second straight collapse and quiet the mounting pressure on Beamer and Sellers. The Gamecocks rarely lay an egg two weeks in a row under Beamer, and the schedule only gets tougher from here.

For Alabama, the focus shifts to protecting a lead and maintaining execution. The Crimson Tide have won each of the last three meetings against South Carolina and are chasing a fourth straight win in the series. A Crimson Tide win would also be their third against South Carolina in the DeBoer era.

The South Carolina vs Alabama result will shape the SEC conversation heading into Week 5, with Alabama looking to stay unbeaten and South Carolina facing hard questions about its quarterback and its head coach.

Related News

• Spark Plug Replacement Cost: Fake Parts & Real Prices
• OPay Investing in People to Build a Better Nigeria
• Hyundai Elantra Parts: Maintenance Tips for N Models
• OPay No Dey Comot Nigeria: How to Verify Fintech News
• GTBank vs Access Bank: Service Disruptions and Lending Rates

BALTIMORE LATEST — Luis Suárez scored in the ninth minute and Colombia led Mexico 1-0 in an international friendly at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night, spoiling Rafa Márquez’s debut as El Tri manager.

Suárez headed home a cross from Richard Ríos to give Los Cafeteros an early advantage. The match, played in steady rain, drew a reported crowd of more than 60,000 tickets sold, though empty seats were visible in the upper levels of the stadium.

Márquez, who captained Mexico in five World Cups as a player, took charge of the senior national team for the first time. The match marked the start of a new cycle for El Tri after their round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup on home soil, where they fell 3-2 to England.

Mexico entered the match ranked 10th in the FIFA rankings. Colombia arrived after a penalty-shootout loss to Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Why the Mexico vs Colombia friendly matters

For Mexico, the match was the first step in a planned transition. A succession plan put in place two years ago elevated Márquez to the top job after Javier Aguirre’s tenure ended. Aguirre is understood to be in advanced discussions to take charge at Valencia in La Liga, according to reports.

Márquez’s appointment carries significant expectations. Mexico had a strong World Cup showing, winning four of five matches before losing to England in a match where they were arguably the better side. The new manager must build on that momentum while integrating younger players.

For Colombia, the match offered a chance to regroup. Nestor Lorenzo remains at the helm despite an underwhelming WorldCup elimination. His side has quality across the pitch and a defined style, but is navigating a transition of its own. Lorenzo confirmed the iconic number 10 shirt will not be retired following James Rodriguez’s international retirement.

Colombia was without Bayern Munich star Luis Diaz, who was left off the roster for this window for rest and recovery. Despite his absence, Colombia controlled the early stage.

How the Mexico vs Colombia match unfolded (Mexico vs Colombia)

Mexico lined up with Raúl Rangel in goal and a back four of Jorge Sánchez, Johan Vásquez, Israel Reyes, and Jesús Gallardo. Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora, and Luis Chavez started in midfield, with Armando González, Hirving Lozano, and Roberto Alvarado leading the attack. Mora, a highly rated young midfielder, wore the No. 10 shirt.

Colombia started Álvaro Montero in goal, with Daniel Muñoz, Jhon Lucumí, Dávinson Sánchez, and Álvaro Angulo across the back. Castaño, Richard Ríos, and Gustavo Puerta formed the midfield, while Luis Suárez, Carlos Andrés Gómez, and Jhon Arias started up front.

Mexico was missing several key players due to injuries, includng Julián Quiñones, César Montes, and Raúl Jiménez.

Heavy rain fell in Baltimore throughout the day & continued drizzling at kickoff. The conditions affected the playing surface and contributed to the sparse attendance in some sections.

Recent history favored Colombia. Los Cafeteros had won their last four meetings against Mexico, including a 4-0 victory in October 2025. Colombia had also won six of their last eight friendlies with six clean sheets.

What’s next for Mexico and Colombia

Saturday’s match was the first-ever Mex Tour stop in Baltimore during the tour’s 23-year history.

Mexico has three more matches scheduled during the extended international break. El Tri will face Peru on Sept. 29 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, then play the United States on Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. They close the window against Chile on Oct. 6 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The busy schedule gives Márquez significant time to implement his preferred style and evaluate players ahead of future competitions.

Colombia will play two more games during the fall international window. Lorenzo’s side faces Paraguay on Oct. 2 before wrapping up the camp against Peru on Oct. 6.

The Mexico vs Colombia result will be scrutinized as both teams begin building toward the next World Cup cycle. For Márquez, the priority is establishing an identity and integrating new faces while maintaining the positive momentum from the summer. For Lorenzo, the focus is on retooling a squad that reached the World Cup quarterfinals but fell short of its ultimate goal.

Mexico has never won the World Cup. Their best-ever finish remains two appearances in the quarterfinals. Colombia reached the quarterfinals in 2026, their best result since 2014.

The next few months will reveal whether Márquez can translate his legendary playing career into managerial success at the senior level. His only previous managerial experience came with Barça Atlètic in 2023-24.

For Colombia, the challenge is maintaining their recent dominance over Mexico while integrating new players into Lorenzo’s system. The absence of Diaz for this window provided an opportunity for others to step forward.

Both teams return to action next week, with Mexico hosting Peru and Colombia facing Paraguay. The Mexico vs Colombia rivalry will renew in future windows, but Saturday’s match set the tone for what comes next.

Latest Articles

• Spark Plug Replacement Cost: Fake Parts & Real Prices
• OPay Investing in People to Build a Better Nigeria
• Hyundai Elantra Parts: Maintenance Tips for N Models
• OPay No Dey Comot Nigeria: How to Verify Fintech News
• GTBank vs Access Bank: Service Disruptions and Lending Rates