Canada won 3:0 at home over Cuba on Match Day 5 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Tosaint Ricketts, Will Johnson and man-of-the-match David Edgar scored the goals in the big 12 October 2012 win in the CONCACAF 3rd Round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers.

With the win, Canada keeps pace in Group C with both Panama and Honduras. With just one match day left in the group phase, Panama (+4) and Canada (+3) have 10 points while Honduras (+2) has eight points. In the group finales on 16 October, Cuba hosts Panama while Honduras hosts Canada. Only two teams will advance to the CONCACAF Final Round in 2013.

Ante Jazic recorded assists on both the Ricketts and Edgar goals while Edgar provided the pass on the Johnson header. Goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld posted the clean sheet with the help of his defensive crew. Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the final 20 minutes.

Out of the gate, Canada was the better team, but it took until the 15th minute before it would open the score. Down the left side, Simeon Jackson played the ball up to Ante Jazic who then played a ball into the box with a pair of Canadians pressing on goal. The ball bounced behind Atiba Hutchinson to the feet of Ricketts who kicked the ball past goalkeeper Odelín Molina.

Canada kept pressing and could have perhaps scored one or two more before the end of the first half, but had to settle with a 1-0 lead after 45 minutes. In the 40th minute, a great Edgar cross was headed just high by Ricketts, with Johnson perhaps in a better position right behind him.

In the 43rd and 44th minutes, Occean had chances with headers, but both attempts were stopped by Molina.

In the second half, Canada was just as hot from the whistle, starting with a Will Johnson rush in the 46th minute. Nearly 30 minutes, Johnson was finally on the end of Canada's second goal, a header from within the box in the 73rd minute. With Cuba reduced to 10 men, Edgar took advantage on the attack and crossed a perfect ball that was headed home by Johnson.

Unfortunately, in retrieving the ball from the goal in that 73rd minute, Canada's Olivier Occean was ejected from the match by referee Javier Santos. Goalkeeper Molina had interfered with Johnson's attempt to retrieve the ball before Molina and Occean connected inside the goal. The Occean ejection came just two minutes after Cuba's Roberto Linares was ejected for a foul on André Hainault. Both teams played the remainder of the match with 10 men each.

Canada's third goal was scored five minutes later, this time by Edgar on the right following a cross from Ante Jazic on the left. Edgar struck the ball with the outside of his foot for his first goal at the international "A" level.

The Canada-Cuba match was played in front of 17,712 fans at BMO Field in Toronto. Along with the two red cards, Canada's Hainault was assessed a yellow card in the 83rd minute.

Cuba's starting XI featured Odelín Molina in goal, Yoel Colomé at right back, Jorge Luís Clávelo and Carlos Francisco at centre back, José Macías at left back, Adonis Ramos at right midfield, Alberto Gómez and Jaime Colomé at centre midfield, Rúslan Batista at right midfield, and Roberto Linares and Yaudel Lahera up front. Cuba coach Chandler González did not have any substitutes on the bench available to him.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS:
The 12 October 2012 victory was Canada's 50th international win at home, improving the overall record to 50 wins, 22 draws and 37 losses in 109 international "A" matches. Canada is unbeaten in nine-straight matches at home (5-4-0). Canada has also improved its home attendance by nearly 50% over the last five years, with an average of 13,789 fans over the last 14 matches (2008-2012) compared to 9,211 fans over 91 previous matches (1924-2007, not counting four matches for which the home attendance is not available).

TWENTY WINS FOR STEPHEN HART:
Stephen Hart became Canada's second head coach to post 20 wins at the international "A" level, joining former coach Bob Lenarduzzi who posted 21 wins from 1989 to 1997. Hart's all-time international record is 20-10-14 in 44 matches from 2006 to 2012. This year, Canada's overall record 4-2-2 in eight matches.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT - THE CLASS OF 1987:
All three Friday night goals were scored by 1987-born players: Ricketts, Johnson and Edgar. Ricketts and Johnson lead Canada with two goals apiece this year, while Edgar co-leads the team with two assists (along with 1976-born Ante Jazi?). Ricketts, Johnson and Edgar were three of the four 1987-born players in the Canadian XI, with Simeon Jackson serving as the fourth from the Canada 2007 generation (Jackson, it should be noted, fed Jazi? who then fed Ricketts for the opening goal). In their young careers, Ricketts has five goals and one assist in 17 matches, Johnson has three goals and five assists in 30 matches, Edgar has one goal and three assists in 14 matches, and Jackson has six goals and two assists in 32 matches.

CONCACAF HONOURS CANADA'S LONDON 2012 PERFORMANCE:
At half time in the Canadian Soccer Association's BMO Field suite, CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz made two presentations to honour Canada's bronze-medal performance at the London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament. First, Sanz presented an engraved bronze tray to player Melanie Booth, who was on hand to represent the Canadian women's national team. Second, Sanz presented a silver tray to Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani. Also on hand for the presentation was Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli and Canada's Minister of State (Sport) Bas Gosal. 

CANADA PLAYS IN FRONT OF NEW PREMIER PARTNER BELL CANADA:
Two days before the Canada-Cuba match in Toronto, the Canadian Soccer Association unveiled new premier partner Bell Canada. On Friday as a special guest in the Canadian Soccer Association's BMO Field suite, Bell Canada spokesperson and Olympic champion Clara Hughes was presented with a special #12 Canada jersey. In the suite, Hughes had the chance to meet both CONCACAF champion and former captain Paul Stalteri as well as London 2012 bronze medal winner Melanie Booth.