Quick on their feet, the Canadians won an important FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match at home on Friday 7 September 2012. From a free kick in the 77th minute, Dwayne De Rosario scored the lone goal of the match with the Panamanian defence unprepared for Atiba Hutchinson's pass from a free kick.

The goal was the difference in a 1:0 win in the CONCACAF 3rd Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers in Toronto, ON, moving Canada into first place of Group C after three matches. In the victory, Canada's defence was solid as it posted its eighth consecutive clean sheet in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Captain and central defender Kevin McKenna was Canada's player of the match.

The hosts started the brighter of the two teams and were rewarded with an early opportunity as McKenna got his head on a corner kick. McKenna did not make enough contact on the play and the chance went wide.

As the first half progressed, Canada continued to dominate the play, but created little in the way of quality scoring chances. Then in the 33rd minute, De Rosario had a shot saved before Olivier Occean’s follow up was deflected wide for a corner kick.

Just three minutes later it was McKenna again who got his head to a cross. Johnson had taken a free kick from the right side and the captain rose well, but his header struck the post and went wide.

Canada continued with its tempo through to the end of the half. Just before the break, Panama's Alberto Quintero displayed some unecessary theatrics after De Rosario's boot clipped him in the face. The two fell to the ground at the same time after Quintero pushed De Rosario from behind.

While no card was shown on the play, there were indeed three cautions assessed in the first half by referee Jeffrey Solis: Will Johnson was booked in the 28th minute, Amilcar Henríquez was booked in the 30th minute, and Jean Carlos Cedeño was booked in the 36th minute. In the second half, both Armando Cooper (67') and Julian de Guzman (72') were booked by Solis. (Later review, however, would correct that Jackson, not de Guzman, would receive the yellow card).

After the break, Canada created more chances. In the 59th minute, De Rosario headed a de Guzman chip back for Occean, but Occean's shot from just inside the box missed the opposite post.

Finally in the 77th minute, Canada won its chance after a streaking Simeon Jackson was fouled down the right side. Without hesitation, Hutchinson took a quick free kick while De Rosario took advantage of some slack marking. As a result, De Rosario found himself in plenty of space where he volleyed the ball into what was virtually an unprotected goal.

Canada had another chance on goal on a free kick in the 83rd minute, although this time substitute Patrice Bernier took his time in preparation for what would be a near-perfect curling kick. Bernier's bending shot, however, went just wide of the target. 

Panama also created its chances after the Canada goal. With seven minutes remaining, Roman Torres tried to go across the goal with a shot from the right side, but the shot was ultimately wide of the target.

Attendance for the 7 September 2012 match was 17,586 fans at BMO Field in Toronto. All time, Canada remains unbeaten against Panama at the international "A" level with three wins and four draws in seven matches.

LINEUPS FOR CANADA AND PANAMA:
Canada's starting XI featured Lars Hirschfeld in goal, David Edgar at right back, Kevin McKenna and André Hainault at centre back, Ante Jazic at left back, and Julian de Guzman, Will Johnson, Simeon Jackson, Atiba Hutchinson, Dwayne De Rosario and Olivier Occean from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, Canada coach Stephen Hart replaced Occean with Tosaint Ricketts (66'), Johnson with Patrice Bernier (71'), and Jackson with Marcel de Jong (85').

Panama's starting XI featured Jaime Penedo (goal), Felipe Baloy, Luis Henríquez, Jean Carlos Cedeño, Roman Torres, Alberto Quintero, Nelson Barahona, Juan Pérez, Amilcar Henríquez, Blas Pérez and Luis Tejada. In the second half, Panama coach Julio Dely Valdés replaced Barahona with Armando Cooper (63'), Juan Pérez with Aníbal Godoy (78'), and Tejada with Rolando Blackburn (84').

PRE-MATCH TRIBUTE TO CANADA'S BRONZE-MEDAL WOMEN'S TEAM:
In advance of the Canada-Panama match on 7 September in Toronto, the Canadian Soccer Association paid tribute to the women's national team that won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament. Several members of Canada's women's national team were on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures before that match. Then as part of a pre-match ceremony, the players were presented to the Canadian fans from the centre of the pitch at BMO Field. This marked the team's first official gathering since the London 2012 Closing Ceremonies on 12 August.

CANADIAN NATIONAL RECORD FOR GOALS SCORED AT THE INTERNATIONAL "A" LEVEL:
With his 20th career goal at the international "A" level, Dwayne De Rosario set a new Canadian national record for goals scored. De Rosario surpassed the previous record held by Dale Mitchell (19 "A" goals from 1980 to 1993). The 7 September goal was also De Rosario's ninth goal in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which ties him with Mitchell for second most on the Canadian list. De Rosario trails Alex Bunbury (11 goals) for the Canadian record in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

THIS IS OUR HOUSE: CANADA'S EIGHT-MATCH HOME UNBEATEN STREAK:
Canada is now unbeaten in eight consecutive international matches at home (four wins, four draws). Canada has also not conceded a goal on home turf in five consecutive matches. All time at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada's record is three wins, six draws and one loss. With 17,586 in attendance, the 7 September 2012 match marked Canada's second-highest attendance for an international "A" match at BMO Field, also the second-highest attendance anywhere in Canada over the last 12 years.