Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Canada fought back to secure a 1-1 draw – and their first ever World Cup point – in a Group B clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday.
The Canucks looked to be on course for a seventh defeat from as many World Cup matches in their tournament history following Jovo Lukic’s goal midway through the first half for Zmajevi (The Dragons), but substitute Cyle Larin struck a fortuitous yet deserved equaliser late in the game.
After a relatively quiet opening phase, Canada were gifted a great chance to claim the lead in the 17th minute when a loose ball in the penalty area rolled perfectly for Jonathan David, but the Juventus forward was unable to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj with a low drive.
Four minutes later Bosnia and Herzegovina went ahead from a set piece, as Jovo Lukic found the back of the net with a glancing header, following a superb corner-kick delivery from Ivan Basic and a flick-on ahead of the near post by Sead Kolasinac.
The Canucks had a chance to level the game just over 10 minutes later when Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi was presented with a shooting chance on the right of the penalty area, but he ballooned an effort high and wide.
Canada dialled up the attacking pressure in the latter stages of the first half, as well as the early minutes of the second, but Vasilj made a couple of key interventions to ensure his side kept their noses in front.
On 53 minutes the co-hosts were inches away from an equaliser, with Richie Laryea put through on goal and beating Vasilj with a shot, but his net-bound effort was directed onto the underside of the crossbar by a back-tracking Kolasinac.
Bosnia had a threatening attack of their own moments later, but Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau came quickly off his line to deny Ermedin Demirovic.
Midway through the second half another Canadian chance saw Oluwaseyi head beyond the reach of Vasilj, but the ‘keeper was again bailed out by his defence, as Nikola Katic cleared off the goal line.
The Canucks finally found the back of the net in the 79th minute, with Promise David’s clever touch setting up a chance for Cyle Larin, who controlled, turned and volleyed home (via a deflection off a defender) to make it 1-1 shortly after rising off the bench to replace Oluwaseyi in attack.
The teams will resume their Group B campaigns next week, with Bosnia and Herzegovina facing Switzerland in Los Angeles on the evening of Thursday 18 June (21:00), and Canada tackling Qatar in Vancouver on the early morning of Friday 19 June (00:00).
Canada (0) 1 (C. Larin 79’)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) 1 (J. Lukic 21’)
Canada: M. Crepeau, A. Johnston, L. De Fougerolles, D. Cornelius, R. Laryea, T. Buchanan (P. David 62’), I. Kone, S. Eustaquio (J. Osorio 90+1’), L. Millar (J. Shaffelburg 61’), J. David (A. Ahmed 61’), T. Oluwaseyi (C. Larin 76’)
B-H: N. Vasilj, A. Dedic, N. Katic, T. Muharemovic, S. Kolasinac (D. Burnic 84’), E. Bajraktarevic (I. Sunjic 74’), I. Basic (A. Gigovic 62’), B. Tahirovic, A. Memic (K. Alajbegovic 74’, E. Demirovic, J. Lukic (S. Bazdar 62’)
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