MONTREAL – It’s a big moment, making your first national team appearance for your country.

But when Louisville City FC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye came on as a second-half substitute for Canada on Tuesday night at Stade Saputo with his side level against Curaçao with 11 minutes to go, all the 22-year-old attacking midfielder was focused on was what was in front of him.

“We were trying to chase for three points, so I don’t think the moment hit me until the game was done — that I actually got my first cap,” Kaye said. “I feel like as soon as I got in, it was like, ’Game on. How am I going to affect the game? How am I going to assert myself?’”

With a composed performance in his limited time on the field, Kaye didn’t play a direct role as Canada grabbed a late 2-1 victory through Anthony Jackson-Hamel’s 87th-minute winner, but the night was certainly a special one for him as Canada took a positive step toward next month’s 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“It was great,” Kaye said of Jackson-Hamel’s goal. “It happened so fast — a ricochet and then we shoot and score. I just remember running into a big group of players celebrating.”

Kaye was one of three players with USL ties to make their debut for Canada on the night, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC phenom Alphonso Davies – already the youngest goal-scorer in USL history – adding to his burgeoning reputation by becoming the youngest player to ever appear for the side when he came on in the 53rd minute.

Former Toronto FC II standout Raheem Edwards, who made upward of 40 appearances in the USL over the past two seasons before signing with Toronto FC this offseason, earned the start in his first appearance before making way for Davies. Then there was Jackson-Hamel, whose fourth full international brought a memorable finish from 22 yards for his second goal for Canada which earned a comeback victory for the hosts.

With the Gold Cup a month away, and places up for grabs under new Head Coach Octavio Zambrano, Kaye and his fellow young standouts are now hoping to get the call when the time comes next month to help Canada try and take the next step forward.

“I feel like I’ve done enough — all I could do — to stake my claim and hopefully put my name in that group for the Gold Cup,” said Kaye. “If not, there are always other opportunities, and I’m just grateful for the one that came tonight.”