The 18-year-old Academy star was only on the pitch for four minutes after coming off the bench late on in the match, as Canada were leading Bermuda by four goals to one, before he opened his account on the international stage.
“I’m really happy to have had my chance to come in and make my debut,” he said. “It’s even better that it’s to get the three points, and it’s good that the team won.
“I thought that they played well in the first-half and the second-half and was a very dominant performance overall.”
His debut was made even more memorable when he found the back of the net. The winger made a clever run into the penalty area from a wide position and was in the right place at the right time to slot home a cross from Charlton Athletic’s loanee forward Liam Millar beyond the Bermuda keeper.
“The goal is just a bonus for me. I’m really happy, and I hope to just continue like this and to keep scoring goals. It was a great feeling. It always is to score a goal. I know that and I’m hoping for more to come.
“This was a game where I was told to come in and make an impact. I feel like that’s what I did, I tried my best in the few minutes that I was out there.
“But more importantly, it was a very good team performance, so I’m really happy for that, and the goal was just a bonus.”
🇨🇦 Theo Corbeanu came on for @CanadaSoccerEN last night to make his international debut...
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 26, 2021
...and then he scored four minutes later!
Congratulations, Theo!
👏⚽️pic.twitter.com/pO18xzVdqm
The 2020/21 season has been a giant phase in Corbeanu’s progression, having not only made the step up from Wolves’ under-18s to become a key player in James Collins’ under-23 side, but he has also found a regular spot in training with Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-team and even been on the bench eight times for the senior side in their Premier League and FA Cup campaigns.
Now with an international debut and goal under his belt, Corbeanu is hoping he can continue to push on and build on what he has achieved this year as part of a young and promising Canada squad.
“I think it’s a very talented squad,” he added. “It’s full of great players all over the pitch, from literally every position.
“It’s a new generation coming up and I think it’s our time.”
Corbeanu will be hoping he can build on a debut to remember in Canada’s second 2022 World Cup qualifying match when they take on the Cayman Islands at 9pm on Sunday evening.
