TORONTO, JUN 13: Canada came from behind to claim their first-ever point at the FIFA World Cup, thanks to Cyle Larin, who scored an equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Group B game at Toronto Stadium in Toronto.
Bosnia took the lead with the first goal of the match in the 21st minute. A corner from Ivan Basic was flicked on at the near post by Sead Kolasinac to Jovo Lukic, who completed the job from a couple of yards out with a perfect header. The scoring team’s fans celebrated the goal wildly.
The first half of the play was dominated by Canada, with six shots on target compared to Bosnia’s five, and they were also ahead in terms of possession.
Bosnia will be disappointed not to win because they went into the break with a 1-0 advantage against the co-hosts in their World Cup 2026 opener, but this could prove to be a key point.
Canada should have equalised through Richie Laryea in the 53rd, but Bosnia’s Sead Kolasinac’s miraculous intervention steered his shot off the crossbar and away to safety.
The Canadians were clearly a dominant team in the second half as well. They continued to attack relentlessly, but despite creating plenty of chances, they could not find the back of the net cleanly as the Bosnians dealt with a succession of crosses and looked to be heading for a narrow win.
But super sub Larin had other ideas; he was introduced in the 76th minute and made an immediate impact. He swivelled and volleyed Nikola Vasilj from just inside the box in the 78th minute.
The shot took a deflection off Nikola Katic, but it was an excellent finish from Cyle Larin.
Canada’s goalkeeper, Maxime Crepeau, had two saves for his team, who entered the match with a 0-6-0 record in two World Cup appearances (1986, 2022).
Nikola Vasilj had one save for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Switzerland and Qatar, who are also in Group B, will clash on Saturday afternoon. Either team could move atop the group with a win after Canada and Bosnia each secured one point.
Canada Starting XI
Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi
Bosnia and Herzegovina Starting XI
Nikola Vasilj; Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac (c); Esmir Bajraktarevic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Ivan Basic, Amar Memic; Ermedin Demirovic, Jovo Lukic.
