TORONTO (TIP): A sardine-packed BMO Stadium rose several times while clapping to laud the historic performance by the Canadian team that scripted history in lodging its first-ever FIFA World Cup point by holding its European opponents, Bosnia Herzegovina, to a 1-1 draw. It was an absorbing and pulsating game that saw the home team completely dominate the second half.
Trailing by a first half goal, Cyle Larin scored the equalizer in the 78th minute to help one of the co-hosts to earn its first-ever point at the FIFA World Cup.
After a colorful bash, the ritual of opening ceremony with flags of all 48 participating nations and singing of national anthems of both Bosnia and Canada was gone through. A show of fireworks added color to the ceremony.
Larin, who entered the game as a substitute just moments earlier, fought off two defenders near the top of the penalty area and beat Nikola Vasilj in the Bosnian goal with a kick that stormed into the low corner.
Earlier, Jovo Lukic scored his first international goal for Bosnia in the 21st minute. He flicked a header past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau off a corner kick.
A colorful opening ceremony preceded the electrifying game that brought Canada and Bosnia face to face for the first time not only in FIFA World Cup but otherwise also.
A capacity crowd of 43,002 – many sporting red Canada jerseys – and some of the rest in blue jerseys supporting Bosnia, were in strong voice as they tried to lift both the sides to dish out a thriller. If the first half mostly belonged to Bosnia, the second half saw the Canadians storming their opponent’s citadel repeatedly.
The initial Canadian attacks were repeatedly stifled by the taut Bosnian defense. It was Larin who finally sent the spectators into a tizzy with his tying goal. For a while, it silenced the stands overflowing with red jerseys.
Canada had been both winless and pointless inboth ofprevious appearances at the World Cup.
Elated at its success, the home team will now head to Vancouver for its remaining group-stage games against Qatar on Thursday and Switzerland on June 24.
With star left back Alphonso Davies out with a hamstring issue, Stephen Eustaquio wore the captain’s armband for Canada.
Coach Jesse Marsch slotted Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi up top in his starting 11. Defender Luc de Fougerolles was on the back line with Moïse Bombito available off the bench.
At the post-match conference, the Canadian coach said that the team, young and fit, played to a strategy of wearing out its opponents in the first half and then taking over the command of the game in the second.
He said that his planned substitutions in the second rejuvenated the team as it launched its offensives with redoubled vigor, penetration, and purpose.
Playing on the home ground with an escalated supportive crowd worked well for the home team.
Conditions were idyllic at the new-look stadium with a temperature of 26 degrees C at thekickoff under mostly sunny skies. Temporary grandstands were added at two sides of the lakefront stadium to bring capacity up to the FIFA minimum.
Actor Will Arnett and singer Michael Bublé helped warm up the crowd before the game and Alanis Morissette sang O Canada.
With the partisan crowd buzzing, Canada earned the first corner kick in the opening minute but could not take advantage. In fact, Canadians earned more corner kicks in the first half – nine against four by their opponents but failed to make use of any. Bosnians had more attempts (four) on Canadian goals than the home team (two).
The Bosnians, ranked 64th in the world, played their usual physical brand of soccer and were effective in cutting off Canadian crosses.
The visitors nearly had a break after some sloppy midfield play in the 11th minute. A hard tackle by Alistair Johnson prevented an opportunity but the defender was given a yellow card.
Canada’s first chance came six minutes later when David was left open near the penalty spot but Bosnian custodian Vasilj made a diving save.
Bosnia took advantage of its first corner kick as Lukic – getting the start over Bosnian legend Edin Dzeko – caught Crepeau too close to the post. Two sections of Bosnian fans in the grandstand above the goal erupted while Lukic was swarmed by his elated teammates.
Canada, ranked 30th, controlled possession for the rest of the half but couldn’t put a shot on target. Oluwaseyi had the best chance but his shot from inside the 18-yard box sailed over the bar.
Both teams pressed after the break with Canada’s Richie Laryea nearly notching the equalizer. After a nifty passing play, he beat Vasilj but the ball deflected off Sead Kolasinac’s outstretched leg and hit the crossbar. It was a providential escape for Bosnia.
Demirovic was sent in alone moments later but Crepeau made a diving challenge and the ball dribbled wide.
Marsch made a triple substitution in the 61st minute, hoping to give his team a spark. Jacob Shaffelburg, Promise David and Ali Ahmed came on for Liam Millar, David and Tajon Buchanan.
Canada defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 and tied Ireland 1-1 in international friendlies last week. Bosnia qualified for the tournament by upsetting Italy in a European qualifier last March.
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based senior journalist who writes on Sports, politics and community. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)
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