Canada needs Tajon Buchanan to break out at World Cup
The Canadian winger has blown hot and cold at this World Cup. That has to change in Sunday's round of 32 match vs. South Africa.
VANCOUVER – By his high standards, Tajon Buchanan has had a quiet World Cup so far.
Buchanan started all three group stage games for the Canadian men's team but was subbed out before the 75th minute in both the first and third matches after looking rather anonymous. He lasted 83 minutes in Canada’s second contest, a 6-0 win over Qatar, in which he collected an assist and was one of the best performers in his team’s historic, first ever World Cup victory.
The goal contribution against the Qataris was Buchanan's first for Canada since he scored against El Salvador last June at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Beyond recording an assist, the wily winger terrorized Qatar. He was the one who slipped in behind the defence and drew the foul that led to the visitors being reduced to 10 men in the first half. He also had a hand in Canada’s fifth goal (an own goal) and in Jonathan David’s goal to make it 2-0.
