Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Gemma Karstens-Smith The Canadian Press
Justin Ellis scored a goal for the United States men’s soccer team against Canada in a friendly match on Tuesday night in St. Paul, resulting in a 1-0 victory. Ellis was injured early in the game but returned to score the winning goal in the 29th minute. Canada also suffered an injury loss with vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio leaving the field after hurting his collarbone. The U.S. team won four friendlies during this international window, while Canada had a record of 2-1-0, including wins over Chile and Peru.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday night, the USMNT defeated Canada by a score of 1-0 in an international friendly match held at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. The game marked another victory for the United States over Canada this year, following wins in ice hockey and baseball. Despite missing key player Christian Pulisic due to injury, young players like Justin Ellis stepped up; he scored the only goal of the match after suffering an ankle injury earlier but returned to score a decisive header off a cross from Alex Freeman. The U.S., using mostly inexperienced players averaging just 21 caps and 23 years old, maintained their perfect record with four wins in friendlies this year, while Canada suffered injuries to key players like Stephen Eustaquio and finished the window with a mixed record of two wins, one loss, and one draw.
Written for “USMNT Friendly Victory Over Canada” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
A goal from Justin Ellis lifted the United States to a 1-0 decision over Canada’s men’s soccer team in a friendly matchup in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday.
asserted
goal → lift → Tuesday
The teenage forward picked up an ankle injury midway through the first half but stayed in the game and tucked in a shot in the 29th minute to give the Americans the lead.
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forward → pick → lead
Canada’s squad suffered a costly injury, too, with vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio leaving the game after playing the final minutes of the first half with a collarbone injury.
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Eustaquio → suffer → injury
The result gave the U.S. four victories over the international window, following wins over Chile, Peru and Mexico.
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result → give → Chile
Canada finished the window 2-1-0 with a 1-0 win over Chile in Toronto and a 2-0 decision over Peru in Montreal.
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Canada → finish → Montreal
The Canadians return to action in November when they take on Guatemala in a two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal.
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they → return → quarterfinal
Guatemala will host the first game on Nov. 13 before the series shifts to Toronto on Nov. 16.
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series → host → Nov.
Canada had chances early on Tuesday, including a pair from Jacob Shaffleburg in the 16th minute.
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Canada → have → minute
The Los Angeles FC winger fired a shot from distance, only to see U.S. keeper Brian Schwake punch the ball away.
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Schwake → fire → ball
Moments later, Shaffleburg collected a ball from Tani Oluwaseyi, raced in and unleashed another blast, this time from the side of the box, forcing Schwake to dive to make the save.
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Shaffleburg → collect → save
The American attack appeared to take a hit in the 20th minute when Ellis went down after colliding with Eustaquio on a challenge.
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Ellis → appear → challenge
The 19-year-old Orlando City SC talent stayed down for several moments holding his right ankle before getting up with help and hobbling off the field.
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talent → stay → field
He returned to the game minutes later.
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He → return → game
The U.S. got its first real chance of the night in the 29th minute when Alex Freeman fired off a shot from the corner of the six-yard box and Ellis darted in to put the ball in the back of the Canada net for a 1-0 lead.
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Ellis → get → lead
There was more bad news for the Canadians 11 minutes later when Eustaquio fell to the turf hard following a challenge by Gio Reyna.
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Eustaquio → be → Reyna
The Swansea midfielder appeared to suffer an upper-body injury on the play, but temporarily stayed in the game.
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midfielder → appear → game
Canada struggled through the final minutes of the first half, giving up multiple opportunities off of set plays, but managed to keep its deficit to a single goal heading into the locker rooms.
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Canada → struggle → rooms
Head coach Jesse Marsch replaced Eustaquio with Mathieu Choinière at halftime, and Canada Soccer said on social media that Eustaquio was “unable to continue.”
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Eustaquio → replace → media
Jonathan David took the captain’s armband for the second half.
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David → take → half
The Canadians came within inches of equalizing in the 63rd minute when defender Luc de Fougerolles collected the ball off a free kick and unleashed a rocket.
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Fougerolles → come → rocket
Schwake got his fingertips on it and sent the shot glancing off the bottom of the crossbar.
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Schwake → get → crossbar
Substitute Promise David had a prime opportunity for Canada about 15 minutes later after Daniel Jebbison sent a cross into the big striker.
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Jebbison → have → striker
David got his head on the ball but sent it just wide of the post.
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David → get → post
The visitors continued to press through the final minutes but couldn’t finish any of their chances.
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visitors → continue → chances
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
The Aporia
