ANALYSIS + HIGHLIGHTS: CanMNT end 2025 on a winning note in fiesty 2-0 victory over Venezuela

The Canadian men's national team concluded 2025 with a victory, defeating Venezuela 2-0 in an international friendly in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday night. 

A scrappy affair in which Les Rouges were far from their best, both sides were shown a red card -- including to the game's opening goalscorer, Ismaël Koné. 

Canada made four changes from the side which drew 0-0 with Ecuador at BMO Field this past Thursday. Just a day after getting sworn in as a Canadian citizen, 28-year-old Alfie Jones made his debut at central defender, with Derek Cornelius returning next to him after recovering from a minor injury. Max Crépeau replaced Dayne St. Clair in net, while Jayden Nelson drew in for his Whitecaps teammate, the suspended Ali Ahmed. 

For Venezuela, they played a lineup that was fairly inexperienced internationally, including a senior debut for Adrián Cova at right back. 

In front of a sparse Chase Stadium crowd, both sides came out of the gates with a lack of intensity, with Canada, in particular, sitting back a little bit more than normal and not pressing particularly aggressively through the opening exchanges. In possession, they looked a little bit ponderous. 

Gleikar Mendoza had the first half chance of the match in the 15th minute when he sent a looping header toward Crépeau's goal, but the Canadian keeper caught it fairly comfortably. 

But in the 24th minute, Canada did exactly what they set out to do in this match, which was to take an early lead. Nelson and Richie Laryea combined well down the left to play the latter into the box. Laryea looked to cross, but it was cleared. That clearance, however, went right into the path of Koné, who took a touch before putting a deflected strike past José Contreras to give Canada a 1-0 lead. 

It was Canada's first goal in four matches, a welcome sigh of relief for a team that had allowed their attack to become a significant talking point coming into Tuesday night's match. 

Both sides then had to make early injury replacements around the half-hour mark. Cornelius was forced to leave the match in the 33rd minute, replaced by Joel Waterman. 

Koné had another chance to add a second for Canada in the 40th minute after midfield partner Stephen Eustáquio picked him out in the box, but got under his strike and sent it well over the net. 

Canada held a 1-0 lead heading into the half, never really threatened by Venezuela despite being far from their best. Canada held just 38 per cent of the ball, struggling to connect passes, especially in the final third. They did, however, take five shots to Venezuela's two. 

The Vinotinto made an intriguing swap at the half, swapping goalkeepers to bring in Wuilker Faríñez for Contreras. The second half kicked off with a fairly stop-start pace, with ten fouls inside the first 15 minutes of the half.

The eighth foul commited, however, was one of significant consequence. A coming together between Richie Laryea and substitute David Martínez saw the Venezuelan lash out in frustration, and catch Laryea in the face. Martínez was shown a straight red card. 

Three minutes later, the numbers were even again. Koné got his foot up high as he contested for a challenge against Kevin Kelsy in midfield. While he pulled his foot down, and it didn't even look upon replay that his foot made contact with Kelsy at all, but he was shown a straight red card, bringing the sides to ten men each. 

Venezuela had their best chance of the match to that point in the 68th minute as Teo Quintero sent a header just wide of the target. The moment seemed to ignite the Vinotinto and the pro-Venezuelan crowd in Fort Lauderdale and they began to put tremendous pressure on the Canadian backline. 

In the 75th minute, Canada made a triple substitution, bringing on Promise David, Nathan Saliba and Jonathan Osorio. Promise David replaced Jonathan David, who had another quiet performance up top for Canada, failing to attempt a shot on target, and making just 27 touches. 

Promise David, meanwhile, made a near instant impact. In the 83rd minute, Niko Sigur cut down the right flank and played a brilliant low cross that David was calmly able to take under control before slotting past Faríňez. It was David's third goal for Canada. 

Frustrations continued to boil over after the goal, as four red cards were shown in the final three minutes of the 90 after a number of cynical fouls. 

Canada's clean sheet was nearly broken at the death, on a wild sequence that saw Max Crépeau make a stop on the first shot, the rebound hit the crossbar behind him, and a third shot sent wide of target. 

With the clean sheet, Canada have now allowed just one goal in their past six matches.  

Box Score

Lineups

Venezuela: Contreras (Fariñez 46'); Cova (R. Hernández 81'), Ferraresi, Quintero, Milani (Lamadrid 81'); Peirea, Cásseres Jr.; Echenique (D.Martínez 31'), Segovia, Mendoza (J. Hernández 63'); Kelsy (Ramírez 62')

Canada: Crépeau; Sigur, Cornelius (Waterman 33'), Jones, Laryea; Buchanan (Osorio 75'), Eustáquio (Saliba 75'), Koné, Nelson (Shaffelburg 64'); J.David (P.David 75'), Oluwaseyi (Choinière 64')

Goals

23' -- Ismaël Koné (Canada) 

Discipline

45+1' — Yellow: Stephen Eustáquio (Canada) 
50' -- Yellow: David Martínez (Venezuela)
57' -- Red: David Martínez (Venezuela) 
60' -- Red: Ismaël Koné (Canada) 
71' -- Yellow: Mathieu Choinière (Canada) 
87' -- Yellow: José Hernández (Venezuela)

Player of the Match

Niko Sigur, Canada

The Canadian right-back hardly put a foot wrong all match, setting up Canada's second goal with a lovely assist. He also won three tackles, five of six duels and completed 21 of 25 passes. 

What’s Next?

Canada has no upcoming friendlies officially confirmed yet, but the next FIFA international window is in March. There is also a possibility of a camp in January featuring mostly domestic-based players, but that too remains to be confirmed