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Liam Millar listened to questions about Canada’s scoring problem.
The 27-year-old winger from Brampton, Ont., helped put those concerns to rest early Saturday.
Millar contributed to both of Jacob Schaffelburg’s first-half goals in Canada’s men’s soccer team’s 2-0 win over Peru in the second friendly of the international break.
“We started the game really well, we were very aggressive, we had a lot of possession,” Millar said. “We always talk about trying to score more goals and we scored two very early goals.
“We took our chances better today and I think that’s really positive.”
Schaffelburg opened the scoring in the 19th minute and doubled the lead in the 35th minute as Canada cruised to victory in front of a crowd of 19,619 on a sunny, 15-degree afternoon at Montreal’s Stade Saputo.
After being off the scoreboard for nearly two years, Jacob Schaffelburg scored with a pair of goals against Peru. Canada won a clean sheet at Stade Saputo in Montreal.
Daniel Jebbison added an assist for the 30th-ranked Canadians, who opened a new four-year World Cup circuit with a 1-0 win over No. 49 Chile in Toronto last week.
Canada shot 61 percent and No. 50 Peru improved to 3-1-0 all-time against the dominant South Americans, including a 17-4, 3-0 advantage in shots on goal.
“We can control matchups and make teams look bad and make it look like they never had a chance in the matchup,” head coach Jesse Marsch said. “It’s a credit to the team and a credit to the fact that we’ve established here that we can handle it because it’s a team that gave Mexico a very good match.
“We made them look worse than they were because of how we performed.”
Marsch believed Canada could have scored more on Saturday.
“Shaaf had two really good goals. He reminded me that he doesn’t score many goals with his head, so we were happy to see that,” he said. “I still think in reality we have to feel like we can achieve more.
“We’re going to keep working on things. We’re going to try to adjust. We’re going to try to take advantage of moments.”
O Canada’s awkward rendition – with the anthem singer appearing to have forgotten the words – got the afternoon off to a strange start.
The home side quickly fired up the crowd when midfielder Natan Saliba found Millar with a dangerous pass in the first minute. Millar dribbled around the keeper but his shot was blocked by a defender.
After Jebbison deflected Millar’s pass to the edge of the six-yard box, Schaffelburg went in with a shot late in the half.
The 26-year-old from Port Williams, NS added his tally in the 35th minute. Schaffelburg headed home Millar’s cross that clipped Peru goalkeeper Diego Romero’s fingers at the back post for his ninth goal with the national team.
“It feels really good,” said the Los Angeles FC winger. “I haven’t scored at all this year, so to score two goals is incredible for my confidence right now.”
Marsh looked more comfortable in the lead, replacing nine players at once in a full line change in the 62nd minute. The coach selected a young starting XI, with 22-year-old goalkeeper Owen Goodman making his senior national team debut.
Several Canadian players were out with injuries, including center back Derek Cornelius, who dislocated his hip in practice last week in Toronto. Defenders Moise Bombito and Alistair Johnston were also away, while captain Alphonso Davies was away on his honeymoon.
World Cup goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was included but was left out of the squad following the death of his father. Veteran forward Cyle Larin also did not play Saturday after straining his back in the weight room earlier in the week.
Piett’s homecoming
Canada Soccer honored longtime center midfielder and CF Montreal captain Samuel Piette with a ceremony in front of his hometown crowd before kickoff. Once a mainstay in the national team, Piett was given a standing ovation as a 66th-minute substitute for his 70th appearance for the senior men’s team and the first since June 2024.
The 31-year-old from Le Gardeur, Que., said he has no plans to retire from international soccer, hoping it won’t be his last.
“I still have the legs, I can still perform at national team level,” Piette said after the game. “The level and individual quality of each player is increasing here, players are playing in big clubs in Europe, players are doing very well in MLS as well.
“And to be able to compare myself a little bit with every practice this week, but also in a match against a good team like Peru… Personally, I felt good.”
Next
Canadians against the United States on Tuesday in St. They finish a three-match window in Paul, Minn. They will return to action in November with a two-legged Nations League quarterfinal against an opponent to be determined during the international break. The second game will be held on November 16 in Toronto.