2025 Gold Cup Recaps: Buchanan Brace Leads Canada to Top of Group B

The North remembers San Pedro Sula while Curacao-El Salvador played out a scoreless draw.

OK Canada, we’ll stop reminding you about San Pedro Sula now.

Tajon Buchanan scored twice in the second half as Canada piled it on their old/former nemesis Honduras while Curacao-El Salvador played out to a scoreless draw.

CANADA 6, HONDURAS 0

As this is a pro-New England site we’re going to focus on star of these highlights, which is one former Revolution winger Tajon Buchanan. By the way Canada, you’re welcome.

We’re going to breeze through the first half goals from Niko Sigur (1st Int’l Goal on a give and go) and Tani Oluwaseyi (ridiculous angle right before the half) and get right to Buchanan putting this game away right after the halftime whistle.

In the 48th minute, Richie Lareya sent in a through ball looking for Oluwaseyi flashing towards the near post. The ball eventually went through everyone and Buchanan tucked away Canada’s third from a tight angle at the backpost.

Buchanan would solidify his man of the match status in the 65th, bundling home a lose ball inside the six after Oluwaseyi’s downward header got stuck between Honduran keeper Edrick Menjivar and a couple of defenders.

Promise David Akinpelu (nifty control and finish in the center of the box) and Nathan Saliba (1st Int’l Goal on a solo effort after a turnover) rounded out the scoring in the 75th and 90th minutes respectively.

Honduras’ best chance came around the 51st minute, when Romel Quioto found himself 1v1 with Dayne St. Clair, but a moment of indecision saw him neither truly take a shot or square a pass for a teammate making a run towards the post. Quioto’s bundling effort was saved off the line and the ensuing corner saw Quioto force St Clair into action again with a diving save to the keeper’s right.

CURACAO 0, EL SALVADOR 0

A cagey, route one affair that featured only 12 total shots and four on target combined, I think Curacao is going to think they should’ve had full points in this one.

A ten minute stretch in the second half saw them force two saves out of Mario Gonzalez in the Salvadorean net, including a point blank stop on Jurien Gaari following a corner kick in the 54th.

Curacao’s best chance however was a slightly deflected up and over effort by Jearl Margaritha in the 65th minute looked goalbound until it came off the crossbar. A good centering pass by Curacao ten minutes later found Livano Comenencia in the center of the box but he wasn’t able to put the shot on target.

GROUP OVERVIEW

Canada is now firmly in control of the group and the table behind them is very, very interesting. With Canada putting up a touchdown with no extra point, goal difference is now very much in play for who advances in this group. Not getting blown out is a viable strategy for playing Canada, and we also have to see if Honduras can rebound and get a result in their next two games as well.

Group B action continues Saturday June 21st from Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas with Curacao-Canada at 7 PM EDT and Honduras-El Salvador at 10 PM EDT, both games on FS1.