CanMNT Form Guide: Russell-Rowe dominant vs. CF Montréal; Is Pantemis making CanMNT case?
It was another week full of goals for Canadian strikers, as Promise David, Tani Oluwaseyi and Jacen Russell-Rowe all added to their impressive season tallies over the weekend.
Plus, as Max Crépeau continues to struggle for minutes in Portland, is there a wider conversation to be had around the goalkeeping position for the Canadian men's national team?
Here are the biggest stories involving Canadian men's national team players this week:
Promise David's numbers in Belgium approaching his namesake's
Even before checking the form guide each week, Canadian men's national team fans can be pretty certain of at least one thing: Promise David probably scored. That was the case again this weekend for Union Saint-Gilloise in a 3-0 victory over Gent, with David adding the third in the 39th minute.
He found the back of the net a second time as well, but it was ruled out by VAR. Especially as he faced off against the former side of compatriot Jonathan David, it was a good opportunity to look at their numbers side by side.
With his 13th goal of the season (to go with four assists), Promise David is having the most productive season by a Canadian in Belgium since Jonathan David with Gent in 2019-20 (18 goals, eight assists). Of course, Jonathan David was three years younger when he put up those numbers, but it's still a good measure of just how impressive Promise David has been this season.
Jacen Russell-Rowe dominates CF Montréal
Russell-Rowe added another strong performance to a good start to the 2025 Major League Soccer season over this weekend against CF Montréal.
He started things off with a lovely assist on a chipped ball over the top into the path of Aziel Jackson to make it 1-0 in the 11th minute. Then, in the 26th minute, Russell-Rowe burst through and slammed home a stunning strike, which stood as the winner in a 2-1 Columbus victory.
Russell-Rowe now has three goals to go with the assist this season and is making the most of his opportunity to lead the line for the Columbus Crew this season.
Have a hit Jacen Russell-Rowe! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/SUbFiN3SCc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2025
Is James Pantemis working his way into Marsch's squad?
As the weeks go by in the 2025 Major League Soccer season, the Canadian national team goalkeeping conversation continues to get more interesting. That is because, following the opening week of the season, and an injury to Copa América starter Max Crépeau, fellow Canadian James Pantemis has taken his net in Portland and not looked back.
Pantemis kept his third clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 draw with Austin FC over the weekend and doesn't appear interested in relinquishing his starting duties soon. Should he keep his net, what does that mean for Max Crépeau's national team future, and by the same token, could Pantemis put himself back in the conversation for a spot on the Gold Cup roster and beyond?
In other action…
Tajon Buchanan made his third consecutive start for Villarreal in a 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao, but was removed in the 57th minute through an injury.
Tani Oluwaseyi is another Canadian striker in top form, scoring in the first minute of Minnesota United's 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Sunday. He now has five on the season.
ONE. MINUTE. IN. ⚡️
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2025
Tani Oluwaseyi opens the scoring with his fifth of the season for @MNUFC! pic.twitter.com/hvsQ9tAmxC
Ali Ahmed picked up an assist in a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in 73 minutes of action.
Dayne St. Clair made three saves, and was shown a yellow card, in a 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Sunday.
Alistair Johnston played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to St. Johnstone on Sunday in Scottish Premiership action.
Joel Waterman was removed at half-time following an injury in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew.
Derek Cornelius played 56 minutes in a 3-2 victory over Toulouse on Sunday in Ligue 1.
Moïse Bombito played 63 minutes and picked up a booking in a 2-1 loss to Nantes for Nice.
Kamal Miller went the full 90 in a 0-0 draw with Austin FC in Major League Soccer action.
Niko Sigur was a 70th-minute substitute for Hajduk Split in a 1-0 victory over Slaven Belupo, picking up a yellow card.
Stephen Eustáquio played 64 minutes, again in the centre of a back three, as Porto lost 4-1 to rivals Benfica on Sunday.
Jacob Shaffelburg came off the bench in the 88th minute during a 2-1 loss to Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Jonathan Osorio played the full 90 minutes in Toronto FC's 1-1 draw with Inter Miami on Sunday.
Mathieu Choinière was a second-half stoppage-time substitute in Grasshoppers' 3-1 victory over Luzern.
Cyle Larin was subbed into the match in the 37th minute in Mallorca's 2-1 loss to Celta Vigo.
Jonathan David played 71 minutes in Lille's 2-1 loss to Lyon -- one that could prove costly in the push for a top-four finish in Ligue 1.
