Canada reaches 1st men's international final in 23 years with win over Panama

Canada's men's national team has a chance to win its first senior title in more than two decades.

Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies powered Canada into the CONCACAF Nations League final with a goal apiece in Thursday's 2-0 semifinal win over Panama in Las Vegas.

John Herdman's side will face the United States in the final on Sunday.

Canada hasn't won a major competition or even played in an international final since lifting the Gold Cup in 2000. It came close in 2021 but lost to Mexico in the Gold Cup semifinals after conceding the winner in heartbreaking fashion in the 99th minute.

There was no such heartache this time around. David latched onto Kamal Miller's exceptional through ball to score the opening goal in the 25th minute, and he later set up Davies for Canada's second.

Canada kept Panama at arm's length without Davies for much of the night. Nursing a hamstring injury, the standout Bayern Munich defender came on in the 62nd minute and fired an unstoppable shot into the upper netting five minutes later.

Panama literally went down swinging, ending the game with 10 men after referee Juan Gabriel Calderon sent off defender Eric Davis for striking Canada's Richie Laryea in the back of the head.