It’s been a goal-scoring bonanza for Canadian players this week – and no, we’re not even talking about Tesho Akindele.
More Canadians found the back of the net over the past seven days than in any other weeklong span in recent memory, which will come as great news for a goal-starved national team scheduled to face Jamaica at BMO Field on Sept. 9.
Foremost among the net-fillers were strikers Marcus Haber and Lucas Cavallini, who each bagged a brace for their respective clubs.
Haber notched his first two goals for his new club, Crewe Alexandra, in a 5-2 loss to Rochdale in England’s League One on Tuesday, while Cavallini collected the first goal and the winner for Centro Atletico Fenix in their season-opening 3-1 victory over Juventud in Uruguay’s Primera Division.
David Edgar also made a splash for his new club, scoring his first goal of the campaign for Birmingham City in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the UK, Fraser Aird got on the score sheet for Glasgow Rangers in their 8-1 demolition of Clyde in Scottish Challenge Cup play on Monday.
Up in Finland, Charlie Trafford tallied the only goal of the match, his second of the season, for KuPS in its 1-0 win over MYPA last Wednesday.
And over in Germany, with the first round of the DPB-Pokal (German Cup) getting underway, Randy Edwini-Bonsu bulged the onion bag for Stuttgarter Kickers, though they were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund by a score of 4-1.
Andre Hainault (VfR Aalen) could have added to the Canadian cavalcade of goals, but he failed to convert during a penalty shootout against BSV Schwarz-Reiss Rehden. Luckily for him, the rest of his teammates converted their penalties, and his side advanced to the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Hainault, however, was the only active Canadian whose side found success in the German Cup.
Nik Ledgerwood’s Energie Cottbus were knocked out on penalties against Hamburger SV (Ledgerwood played 77 minutes), while Marcel de Jong’s Augsburg went out 1-0 to Magdeburg, with de Jong playing 84 minutes.
Amidst all of the goal scoring and German Cup drama, there were a few more notable moments this week for Canadians finding new homes abroad.
Simeon Jackson made his first appearance for Coventry City after signing with the club earlier this week, coming in as a late substitute in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Barnsley.
Jordan Hamilton, the 18-year-old striker on loan from Toronto FC, made his first two appearances for CD Trofense in Portugal, starting last Wednesday before coming on as a sub in Sunday’s match.
And Atiba Hutchinson’s side, Besiktas, earned a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff showdown on Tuesday, with the deciding fixture coming next Wednesday at the Emirates. Hutchinson himself missed the game due to a hamstring injury – but could the Canadian veteran step in next week and provide a decisive boost for his team?
Given the way things have gone for Canadians this week, you wouldn’t want to count him out.
