CanMNT Form Guide: Promise David brace secures Belgian title for USG; Max Crépeau back in form?
The European club season wrapped up this weekend, and several Canadians put in strong shifts to finish off their respective league seasons.
Promise David wrote his name in the history books in Belgium, while closer to home, a pair of national team veterans are working their way back into form and fitness in Major League Soccer.
With the women’s national team in action on Saturday, another edition of the form guide will be released later in the week, looking at who is impressing going into their pair of friendlies against Haiti.
For the men’s national team, however, here are the biggest stories from this past week:
Promise David brace helps Union Saint-Gilloise to Belgian title
History was made in Belgium this week, and a Canadian was right at the centre of it all.
For the first time in 90 years, Union Saint-Gilloise won the Jupiler Pro League as Belgian champions, securing their title with a 3-1 victory over Gent in their final match of the season on Sunday.
Canadian international Promise David finished off the outstanding campaign by scoring a brace, including the match winner in the victory. That queued epic celebrations at Stade Joseph Marien with fans invading the pitch and all six-foot-five of David being hoisted on the team’s shoulders while he was wrapped in a Canadian flag.
The 23-year-old David finished the league season, his first in Belgium, with a stunning 19 league goals, and four assists. He had 24 goals in all competitions.
As a result, David has been linked to a number of clubs in recent weeks, including Lille and Brighton, as well as newly promoted Ligue 1 side Paris FC. A big summer is ahead for David, both for the national team and his potential club future.
Max Crépeau working his way back into form, goalkeeper conversation for Canada
After an incredibly slow start to the campaign for Max Crépeau, starting just two of Portland’s first 11 league matches, and allowing four goals in each, the Canadian keeper is back in form just in time to join the national team.
The 31-year-old Crépeau has now started five straight matches for Portland in the league, after an injury to compatriot James Pantemis. He has allowed just three goals in that time, including making three saves in a narrow 1-0 loss to Orlando City this weekend.
Dayne St. Clair still has the edge on him for Canada’s number one job given recent form for both club and country. But Crépeau has always been excellent in a Canada shirt, and now that he is getting significant minutes for his club again, the conversation surrounding Canada’s goalkeeping situation becomes a whole lot more interesting than it was just a few weeks ago.
Jonathan Osorio scores in his return from injury for Toronto FC
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio returned from injury on Saturday, his first action since being removed in the 21st minute of Toronto FC’s preliminary round Canadian Championship loss to CF Montréal on April 30.
Coming into Saturday’s match at BMO Field against Nashville SC with his side trailing 2-0, Osorio scored an absolute screamer in stoppage time. It was only a consolation goal, but an important statement from Oso that he was back in business. It was also his 50th league goal for Toronto FC.
O Captain! Our Captain! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ku4vxhP3mZ
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) May 25, 2025
This is great news both for the club, who have undoubtedly missed their midfield leader. But it is also important for the Canadian men’s national team, who will rely on Osorio as an important veteran presence during this summer’s Gold Cup tournament as well as the upcoming Canadian Shield fixtures.
In other action...
Daniel Jebbison scored his first league goal for Bournemouth on Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to Manchester City. He followed that up by coming off the bench in the 63rd minute in their season finale on Sunday, a 2-0 victory over Leicester City.
Tajon Buchanan started and went 75 minutes for Villarreal, earning an assist in a 4-2 victory over Sevilla.
Jakheele Marshall-Rutty had two assists for Charlotte FC midweek against D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup, but his side lost on penalties. He followed that up by going to full 90 at left-back during a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew in the league on Saturday.
Sam Adekugbe started and scored against Valour in a 2-2 draw in the Canadian Championship on Tuesday night. He then went 68 minutes in a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake in league action on Saturday.
Ali Ahmed came off the bench and also scored against Valour in midweek CanChamp action. He also put in a strong shift, going 85 minutes against Real Salt Lake in MLS action over the weekend.
GOAL 🏔️🏔️
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 21, 2025
Ali Ahmed scores his first goal of 2025 to tie things up for @WhitecapsFC in this TELUS #CanChamp quarter-final vs. Valour FC 🍁
🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/2qIR7bQkyY
Dayne St. Clair made a pair of saves on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Austin FC.
Alistair Johnston had a difficult end to another outstanding season for Johnston, who missed the decisive spot kick in the Scottish Cup final as Aberdeen prevailed over Celtic in the final.
Joel Waterman went 90 minutes midweek in a 1-0 loss to Forge FC in the Canadian Championship. He did not appear in a 2-2 draw with LAFC on Saturday.
Zorhan Bassong started and played the full match in midfield as Sporting Kansas City drew 3-3 with New England Revolution.
Niko Sigur was not in the team for Hajduk Split as they won 1-0 against Šibenik yesterday. Hajduk Split finished the season in third, and will participate in Conference League qualifiers in July.
Nathan Saliba started and played the full 90 in a 1-0 loss to Forge on Tuesday, before starting again and playing 59 minutes in a 2-2 draw with LAFC.
Mathieu Choinière came off the bench in the 76th minute in a 2-0 win for Grasshoppers over St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League.
Jacob Shaffelburg started and played 58 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday for Nashville SC.
Tani Oluwaseyi went the full 90 up top for Minnesota United in a 1-1 draw with Austin on Saturday.
Cyle Larin came off the bench in the 64th minute in Mallorca’s season finale, a 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano. Mallorca finished the season a respectable 10th in the table.
