RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Nelson, Osorio score as Canada double up on Uzbekistan

In the Canadian men’s national team’s penultimate match ahead of the 2026 World Cup, they defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in a friendly at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. 

It extended Canada’s unbeaten streak to six matches. A dominant second half saw Jonathan Osorio open the scoring in the 58th minute. Then Jayden Nelson, who is not currently part of Canada's World Cup squad, added an excellent effort in stoppage time. 

Canada’s starting lineup saw a couple of long-awaited returns to the squad, most notably Moïse Bombito making his first appearance for Canada since March 23, 2025 against the United States. Alistair Johnston, meanwhile, made his first start since the Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final on June 29, 2025.  

A slick and rain-soaked pitch in Edmonton, which had a grass surface laid for this match, led to both sides struggling to find their footing early. Uzbekistan picked up a pair of bookings inside the opening nine minutes. 

Looking for a much better start than they had in their matches during the March window, Canada were quick to get on the ball and look to go forward. But it was Uzbekistan who had the first clear opportunity of the opening exchanges, when the visitors played a ball far too easily over Canada’s high line. Eldor Shomurodov found himself alone on Max Crépeau. 

Bombito did well to show his speed and initial track back and dispossess Shomurodov, but he lost his footing and gave it back to the Uzbekistan attacker. A comical sequence concluded when Shomurodov tried to scoop the ball over Crépeau, but put it well wide of the net. Still, it was an early warning sign for Canada’s backline. 

Canada had their first chance of consequence after a quickly taken free kick in the 26th minute. Stephen Eustáquio drifted into the box and fired a pass across the goal, which Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvokhid Nematov deflected in behind. On the ensuing corner kick, Uzbekistan launched a quick counter and Canada were once again exposed at the back, with Shomurodov forcing a good stop from Crépeau, diving to his left. 

In the 32nd minute, Canada made a pair of seemingly pre-planned substitutions as they brought off Bombito and Richie Laryea, both recovering from injury, and brought on Luc de Fougerolles and Niko Sigur. In his first minute of football since October, Bombito understandably, but perhaps concerningly, looked off the pace. 

The Canadian central defender was seen limping off the pitch and down the tunnel with an icepack on his tibia following his removal from the match. 

Sigur instantly started combining well with Liam Millar down the left flank, who created Canada’s best chances of the later stages of the second half. His low cross in the 38th minute forced another good defensive intervention with Cyle Larin waiting to tap the ball in at the back post. 

Just two minutes before the half, Crépeau made yet another brilliant stop on Shomurdov after a Uzbekistan cross into the box on a free kick. The flag did go up after the play for offside. 

Canada did show better over the last few minutes of the half, but it was largely a disjointed effort from the group in their first action since March. Canada ended the half with 52 per cent of the ball, but just three shot attempts, and one on target. 

Canada nearly entirely rotated their lineup through a number of planned substitutions at the half, bringing on Dayne St. Clair, Jayden Nelson, Ralph Priso, Osorio, Mathieu Choinière, Tani Oluwaseyi and Nathan Saliba. Derek Cornelius and Jonathan David were the only players who started the match who remained on the pitch to begin the second half. 

Nelson and Oluwaseyi nearly connected immediately, but the striker couldn’t quite get a foot on the ball from close range. Nelson, who was not named to Canada’s World Cup squad but remains with the team as a potential injury replacement, provided immediate energy to the Canada attack. 

It was much better from Canada to begin the second half as David slipped through Oluwaseyi in the 57th minute – but he sliced his shot wide. 

A minute later, Canada cut through again, this time down the right flank. Some great work from Priso won the ball back down the left flank, who played forward for Oluwasweyi, who played in Osorio down the right. The veteran midfielder’s strike went through the hands of Nematov and gave Canada a 1-0 lead. 

Priso, who continued to show his immense versatility, was subbed in to take the place of Alistair Johnston at left back. He was brilliant at the new position, showing well on both sides of the ball to both begin attacks for Canada and thwart them for Uzbekistan. 

In the 70th minute, Canada made two more intriguing substitutions, bringing on striker Promise David and defender Alfie Jones. 

Against the run of play, Uzbekistan had a chance in the 77th minute as Jones slipped and gave the ball away, but his central defensive partner, De Fougerolles did well to get back and make a brilliant tackle in the box to bail him out. 

Canada thought they had a moment of magic in the 80th minute, as Promise David got in behind and smashed the ball into the top corner. But he was judged to have been offside. The Canadians had another chance in transition through Nelson in the 86th minute, as he again played in Oluwaseyi, who saw his chance saved.

The excellent crowd, despite the rain in Edmonton, had one more moment to roar, however. The outstanding Nelson cut down the left and calmly curled a ball into the bottom corner to seal a 2-0 victory for Canada.  

The Canadian team now head to Stade Saputo in Montréal for their final friendly before the 2026 World Cup against the Republic of Ireland. 

Box Score 

Lineups 

Canada: Crépeau (St. Clair 46’); Johnston (Priso 46’), Bombito (de Fougerolles 32’), Cornelius (Jones 69'), Laryea (Sigur 32’); Buchanan (Osorio 46’), Koné (Choinière 46’), Eustáquio (Saliba 46’), Millar (Nelson 46’); Larin (Oluwaseyi 46’), J.David (P. David 69')

Uzbekistan: Nematov; Nasrullaev, Khusanov, Ashurmatov, Abdullaev (Urozov 70’), Sayfiev (Sergeev 85’); Ganiev (Fayzullaev 23’), Shukurov (Mozgovoy 70’), Khamrobekov (Esanov 85’), Urunov (Amanov 71’); Shomurodov

Goals 

58’ – Jonathan Osorio (Canada)
90+1' -- Jayden Nelson (Canada) 

Discipline 

2' — Yellow: Azizjon Ganiev (Uzbekistan)
9’ – Yellow: Farrukh Sayfiev (Uzbekistan)
40’ – Yellow: Liam Millar (Canada)
43’ – Yellow: Derek Cornelius (Canada) 

Player of the Match 

Jayden Nelson, Canada

The moment he was introduced, Nelson made an instant impact. He was rewarded in the match's dying moments with an outstanding individual effort to score Canada's second goal. He also had a key pass and attempted six dribbles (completing three). 

What’s Next? 

CanMNT play their final World Cup preparation friendly on Friday at Stade Saputo against the Republic of Ireland (7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on OneSoccer).