Canada are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages after a Jonathan David hat-trick inspired a 6-0 win over woeful nine-man Qatar - in a result marred by a serious leg injury for midfielder Ismael Kone.
Jesse Marsch's side were dominant from start to finish in Vancouver - leading 3-0 at half-time thanks to David's double and Cyle Larin's opener. Qatar defender Homam El Amin was sent off for a last-man challenge on Tajon Buchanan in that half.
But the most pressing concern was for Canada midfielder Kone - who was stretchered off with oxygen after a challenge that left everyone watching distressed. VAR upgraded Assim Madibo's yellow card to a red.
"I haven't spoken to Ismael yet, he's at the hospital, he will prepare for a surgery. I'm going to see him after this press conference," Canada boss Jesse Marsch said after the game.
"We'll see exactly what we decide to do for him. His family is with him at the hospital. It happened right in front of the bench - everyone could hear the bone snap.
"Your heart goes out to him, and everybody's a little shaken by the experience, because of the nature of the injury and also because Ismael is a big part of the team."
Marsch confirmed Madibo did enter the Canada dressing room after being sent off to apologise to Kone but admitted he was confused by the reaction from the Qatar bench, after an altercation between both sets of players broke out following the incident.
Marsch continued: "Let me be clear, the player apologised to Ismael, came into the dressing room and apologised to him and Ismael told the team that had happened. So I don't think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or gruesome situation.
"But I don't understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player's leg."
Marsch and Qatar boss Julen Lopetegui also had a testy exchange after full-time, which neither boss wanted to comment on: "I'm not spending one second (discussing it), it's not worth any of our time to discuss," Marsch said.
Kone's replacement Nathan Saliba then curled in a free-kick to make it 4-0, and lifted his stricken team-mate's shirt up in his celebration. Mohammad Al Mannai's comical own goal made it worse for Qatar, as David completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.
The result means Canada need to avoid defeat against Switzerland in the final group game to claim top spot in Group B - which would see them play their round of 32 game in front of a home crowd.
16: GOAL! Vancouver explodes with noise as Larin taps home after David's shot is spilled into his path.
29: GOAL! David makes it 2-0 with a stunning volley from inside the area.
32: RED CARD! Canada are given a penalty for El Amin's trip on Buchanan, but VAR awards a free-kick as it is outside the box. El Amin's booking is upgraded to a red.
45+3: GOAL! After more Canada pressure, David pokes home a third after Larin's header is well-saved.
51: RED CARD! Canada midfielder Kone suffers a serious injury after a foul by Modibo, needing to leave the pitch with oxygen and Canada players looking distressed. The Qatar player is sent off after VAR upgraded the yellow card.
64: GOAL! Kone's replacement Saliba scores a direct free-kick and holds up Kone's shirt in his celebration.
75: GOAL! Al Mannai scores a comical own goal by diverting Jacob Shaffelburg's off target shot into his own net.
90+2: GOAL! David completes his hat-trick amid more woeful defending.
Your Site' Sam Blitz:
This was not completely a case of Canada being good. In truth, Qatar were shambolic from start to finish.
Julen Lopetegui's side only had two shots - one of which came after 45 seconds. They had no shots on target, and just 15 touches of the ball in the Canada half in the second period. It was barely a test for Canada.
But what Jesse Marsch's side have done is instil belief into this squad. A first ever World Cup win will breathe confidence into his team. No one will feel it more than Jonathan David.
The Canada No 10 has endured a difficult season, having flopped at Juventus - and he looked poor in the draw against Bosnia. This treble is a reminder of the striker who ripped through Ligue 1's defences while at Lille.
Cyle Larin seems like his perfect strike partner - both are a handful in the penalty area. Tajon Buchanan was player of the match despite not scoring, forming a solid partnership with Alistair Johnston on the right wing.
And if Canada can back this up with any sort of result against Switzerland, can they enter the dark horses category in the knockout stages?
A round of 32 against Canada, in Canada, is not an attractive proposition....
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch:
"Ismael is such a great kid. He's so imperfect but that's part of why you love him. He can do great things, things that nobody else can do. And then the next moment he loses concentration for a second. He really embodies a lot of what the team is.
"Against Bosnia he was our best player, he was the one who wanted the ball, wanted to get going and wasn't afraid.
"It's a huge loss for us. He'll be fine. We'll get him to the doctors, we'll get him back. Our heart is with him. That kid has got a big future."
