In a thrilling Group B clash at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Curaçao secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Canada on Saturday night at Houston's Shell Energy Stadium. The late equalizer from Jeremy Antonisse in the 94th minute kept Curaçao’s hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stage, while Canada had to settle for a point despite having taken an early lead through Nathan Saliba.
Canada started the match strong, with Nathan Saliba, the 21-year-old CF Montréal midfielder, breaking the deadlock in just the ninth minute. Saliba capitalized on a defensive lapse from Curaçao, pouncing on an attempted clearance to fire a low shot across the box and past goalkeeper Eloy Room. This marked Saliba’s second consecutive goal in the tournament, demonstrating his growing influence for Les Rouges in his fifth international appearance.
Canada, ranked 30th globally, had come into the match with confidence after a resounding 6-0 victory over Honduras in their opening group game. Despite missing star winger Alphonso Davies due to an ACL injury sustained in March’s CONCACAF Nations League, the team showed resilience and tactical discipline under the interim stewardship of assistant coach Mauro Biello, who managed the side from the sidelines due to head coach Jesse Marsch’s two-game suspension.
Following Saliba’s opener, Canada maintained a slight edge in possession, finishing the first half with 55% control of the ball. However, Curaçao, ranked 90th, began to find their rhythm as the match progressed. The Caribbean side pressed forward with increasing urgency in the second half, looking to overturn the deficit against a Canadian defense that occasionally struggled to deal with second balls and set pieces.
One of the most dramatic moments came in the 66th minute when former FC Cincinnati striker Jürgen Locadia appeared to have leveled the score with a clinical finish at the far post. Unfortunately for Curaçao, the goal was ruled out after a VAR review confirmed a narrow offside in the build-up, extinguishing the celebrations on the bench. The frustration deepened when another Curaçao goal was disallowed later in the match for offside, and a potential penalty was negated due to a stoppage caused by a crowd whistle.
Despite these setbacks, Curaçao refused to relent. The team made strategic substitutions, bringing on Jeremy Antonisse and Godfried Roemeratoe to inject fresh attacking impetus. Their persistence paid off in the 94th minute when Antonisse broke free on a quick counterattack. His low shot deflected off sliding defender Zorhan Bassong, wrong-footing Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and sending the stadium into a frenzy. This was a historic moment for Curaçao, marking the first time they have held a North American side to a draw in Gold Cup history.
Canada captain Jonathan David expressed the team's frustration post-match: "We had warnings just to tell us to be a bit more careful, but they kept pushing and got the equalizer. So obviously it’s frustrating to get a tie like that but we have to keep moving forward." David, who alongside defender Kamal Miller accounts for over half the caps in the Canadian starting lineup, underscored the importance of learning from the experience as Canada remains in the driving seat in Group B.
Canada now leads the group with four points, followed by Curaçao with two, and El Salvador with one point after their late match against Honduras. The group stage finale on Tuesday, June 24, will see Canada face El Salvador in Houston, while Curaçao takes on Honduras. A win for Canada against El Salvador would secure first place in Group B and set up a quarterfinal clash against the second-best team from Group A, currently Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Curaçao can still advance with a victory over Honduras.
The match was played under warm conditions, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, and in front of a modest crowd at the 22,100-capacity Shell Energy Stadium. The game was officiated by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon, who managed several tight decisions including the critical VAR calls that disallowed Curaçao’s goals.
Canada’s lineup featured several changes from their opening match, with five new starters including Kamal Miller, Zorhan Bassong, Jayden Nelson, Jacob Shaffelburg, and Ismael Kone. The team was without injured center backs Derek Cornelius and Moise Bombito, which tested their defensive depth. On the other side, Curaçao fielded a diverse squad with players from clubs across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, led by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, whose extensive international experience was evident in the team’s tactical adjustments.
The match’s intense pace and physicality were reflected in the disciplinary actions, with yellow cards shown to Curaçao’s Sherel Floranus and Canada’s Kamal Miller. Despite some moments of frustration and fouls, both teams displayed determination and quality, resulting in a fiercely contested encounter.
Looking ahead, Canada must regroup quickly to secure their quarterfinal spot, while Curaçao’s spirited performance has injected new belief into their campaign. The Gold Cup quarterfinals are scheduled for June 28-29, with semifinals on July 2 and the final set for July 6 at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
As the group stage nears its conclusion, the stakes are higher than ever. Canada’s quest for a second Gold Cup title continues, but the narrow escape against a resilient Curaçao side serves as a reminder that no opponent can be underestimated in this fiercely competitive tournament.
