Canada's Copa America Dream Alive After Hard-Fought 1-0 Win

Canada Breaks Through with 1-0 Victory Over Peru

Canada wins first-ever Copa America match with 1-0 victory over Peru, thanks to Jonathan David Jr.'s incredible strike. Despite intense heat and a brief health scare for an assistant referee, Canada secures historic win.

During the Copa America match between Peru and Canada on Tuesday, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj suddenly collapsed in the 48th minute. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau rushed to his side, turned him over, and called for medical help. After a few minutes, Panjoj was stretchered off the field to applause from the crowd at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City.

Despite the incident, the game continued as scheduled, with both teams rushing off to their locker rooms at halftime. It was announced that Panjoj was receiving medical attention, and fourth official Augusto Aragon replaced him on the sidelines for the second half. The cause of Panjoj's collapse was unclear, but many speculated it was due to the intense heat, with temperatures reaching 91 degrees Fahrenheit and 51% humidity.

Uruguay's Ronald Araujo also experienced dehydration during Sunday's match against Panama, highlighting the severe heat conditions at this year's Copa America. Despite the challenges, Canada secured a 1-0 victory over Peru, thanks to Jonathan David's incredible strike in the 74th minute and a red card given to Peru's Miguel Araujo. Jonathan David Jr. was named man of the match.

The incident raised concerns about the heat and its impact on players and officials. With over half of the tournament's locations being outdoors, the extreme heat has become a significant issue. The temperature reached 100 degrees at the start of the second half, prompting the crowd to seek shade. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and player welfare in extreme weather conditions.