Jonathan David scored in the 74th minute, and Canada knocked off Peru 1-0 on Tuesday night in the Copa America for its first victory over a South American opponent in 24 years.
Peru played a man short after Miguel Araujo was given a red card in the 59th minute for a studs-up tackle on Jacob Shaffelburg, a call made after a video review.
Canada got its first win in four matches under Jesse Marsch, the American hired as coach last month, and beat a South American team for the first time since a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. It was also Canada’s first-ever victory in a Copa America match.
David’s goal, his 27th for Canada, ended the national team’s 391-minute scoreless streak. Twenty-six of his goals have come in competitive matches.
“This win means a lot. It means that we have everything to fight for in the last [Group A] game [against Chile] to make it out of the group stage,” David said. “It was a difficult game but we managed to get the three points.”
The game was paused in first-half stoppage time when an assistant referee running on the non-shaded part of the stadium collapsed and needed medical attention. He got to his feet briefly and was taken off the field in a stretcher. He had been running down the line on the non-shaded part of the stadium in Kansas City, Kan.
Canada (1-1), in its first Copa America, rebounded from an opening 2-0 loss to defending champion Argentina, and Peru began with a 0-0 draw against Chile. The Canadians close Group A on Saturday against Chile at Orlando, Fla., the same day Peru (0-1-1) faces Argentina at Miami Gardens, Fla. The top two teams from Group A advance to the quarterfinals.
“I look at the result, and I know that the guys are excited to make history,” Marsch said after the win. “That was a big moment. But I look at it more as the situation that the team was in. It was hot.”
Peru reached the semifinals in 2021 before losing to Brazil. It had failed to score in nine of its last 12 matches.
David scored after Cyle Larin made a long outlet pass to Shaffelburg, who crossed. David took two touches and beat goalkeeper Pedro Gallese from near the penalty spot, sending the ball in off the far post. David is two goals behind Larin, Canada’s career scoring leader.
Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made a clutch diving save in second-half stoppage time, then punched away a free kick.
Canada roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Thomas McGill, Brighton and Hove Albion (England); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, Colorado Rapids (MLS); Derek Cornelius, Malmö FF (Sweden); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Luc de Fougerolles, Fulham (England); Kyle Hiebert, St. Louis City SC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Mathieu Choiniere, CF Montreal (MLS); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Ismael Kone, Watford (England); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Samuel Piette, CF Montreal (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS).
Forwards: Theo Bair, Motherwell (Scotland); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Liam Millar, FC Basel (Switzerland); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS); Jacen Russell-Rowe, Columbus Crew (MLS).