VANCOUVER, June 19 — Jonathan David scored a hat-trick as Canada secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals victory and boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a 6-0 thrashing of nine-man Qatar early this morning.
The co-hosts' joy at the emphatic victory was tempered by a serious injury suffered by midfielder Ismael Kone, but they moved top of Group B with four points from two matches. Qatar remain bottom with one point.
Canada next host Switzerland, who also have four points, in Vancouver on Wednesday.
Roared on by a vocal sea of red and white, Canada started brightly and were rewarded in the 16th minute when Cyle Larin reacted quickest after goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada saved David's initial effort to give the hosts the lead.
Larin, who scored after coming off the bench in Canada's 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, was handed a start alongside David, the country's all-time leading goalscorer.
Canada doubled their advantage 13 minutes later when David met a cross with a powerful volley, before the match swung decisively in the hosts' favour as Qatar were reduced to 10 men.
A penalty was initially awarded for El Amin's foul on Tajon Buchanan, but a VAR review ruled the offence had occurred outside the penalty area. The decision was downgraded to a free kick, while Homam Ahmed's yellow card was upgraded to a red.
David grabbed his second goal just before halftime, bundling the ball home from close range after Abunada had saved Larin's header, leaving Qatar with a mountain to climb.
Kone suffered his injury following a tackle by Assim Madibo and was carried off on a stretcher. However, the 24-year-old was later seen sitting up and waving to the crowd with his left leg in a large inflatable protective boot.
Tempers flared following the incident and Madibo was shown a red card, reducing Qatar to nine men.
Substitute Nathan Saliba, who replaced Kone, added Canada's fourth goal with a curling free kick before running to the touchline and holding up Kone's shirt in tribute to his injured teammate.
Qatar's miserable evening worsened when midfielder Mohammad Mannai turned the ball into his own net, before David completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal a dominant Canadian victory.
