It was a milestone goal for Dwayne De Rosario.

More importantly, it was a winning goal for Canada.

The former Toronto FC captain became the all-time leading scorer for the men’s national team Friday night, volleying a shot past Panama’s startled goalkeeper, Jaime Penedo, late in the second half to give Canada a dramatic and desperately-needed 1-0 victory in their quest to make a return to the World Cup for the first time in a generation.

“It was a special day today,” De Rosario said after his decisive strike in the 77th minute moved Canada (2-0-1) to the top of their group, one point ahead of Panama (2-1-0), at the midpoint of the penultimate stage of qualifying for Brazil 2014.

With the goal, De Rosario’s 20th in a national team jersey, he passes former teammate and coach Dale Mitchell atop the Canadian team’s all-time scoring list.

It was a winning goal that appeared destined not to come.

Much of the match before a boisterous crowd of 17,586 at BMO Field was dominated by the Canadians. They held an edge in possession and scoring chances, especially in the first half, but couldn’t convert and looked on the verge of a devastating 0-0 tie.

But after Simeon Jackson, a thorn in the Panamanians’ side all night down the right wing, was pulled down on the edge of the penalty area, Canada struck quickly.

As the visitors slowly gathered themselves on defence, Atiba Hutchinson sent the ball across the goalmouth where an unmarked De Rosario simply guided a right-footed volley past a helpless Penedo from six yards to send the fans into a frenzy.

“Great vision by Atiba Hutchinson to catch the defence sleeping,” De Rosario said of the goal. “Really, all I had to do was focus on the ball and put it in the back of the net.

“It was a great feeling,” he said, calling it the biggest of the 20 he’s scored for Canada, “as of right now, but hopefully I can have more special moments in the future.”

Canada, which travels to Panama for a match Tuesday night, is still a long way from booking a spot at the World Cup for the first time since its lone appearance in 1986.

But winning what was considered the team’s biggest match in a decade was key.

“It puts us first place in the group and it’s a great victory at home with the support of the crowd,” said Patrice Bernier, who nearly supplied an insurance goal from a free kick in the 82nd minute but put it just wide. “This was a very big boost for us in the campaign.”

The top two sides in the four-team group, which also includes Honduras and Cuba, will advance to the final stage of qualifying next year. Three of the six in that last stage will move directly on to Brazil, with the fourth facing a team from Oceania in a playoff.

Earlier Friday, Honduras (1-1-1) were 3-0 winners over Cuba (0-3-0) in Havana.

After Tuesday, Canada hosts Cuba on Oct. 12 and visits Honduras on Oct. 16.

“We have to take advantage of our home games and we did that today,” said Hutchinson, who said on the goal he saw De Rosario wide open and no Panamanian defenders in front of the ball so he just decided to kick it quickly. “It was a very big victory for us ... and hopefully we can go to Panama and get another good result.”

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Panama’s Roman Torres had the best chance to spoil the party with a late equalizer. He was given space on the edge of the Canadian penalty area with less than 10 minutes remaining but lashed a right-footed rocket just wide and high of the goal.

Lars Hirschfeld also made a nice diving stop on a header by Alberto Quintero in the 47th minute on the way to earning Canada’s eighth straight clean sheet.

Asked what he thought about the milestone goal, Canadian head coach Stephen Hart said he wasn’t aware of its significance, adding: “I think it’s good for him that he broke the record but as a coach I don’t care who scores.”