Canada battled back for a deserved 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday as the co-hosts picked up a maiden point in the first men’s World Cup game played on Canadian soil.
Experienced substitute Cyle Larin scored in style on 78 minutes having only recently come on to leave Toronto fans in raptures.
Bosnia forward Jovo Lukić, only playing due to fitness concerns around 40-year-old veteran Edin Džeko and Haris Tabaković, had opened the scoring when he nodded in on 21 after a corner had been flicked on. It was his first international goal.
The Toronto stadium, expanded temporarily for this World Cup but still the smallest at the tournament with 45,000 seats, had been treated to songs by Canadian singers Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé before kick-off.
The home team, who lost all of their previous six men’s World Cup games over two tournaments, produced their own rousing performance after going behind and should have won on the balance of play.
The Bosnians, in a second men’s World Cup as an independent nation, were happy to sit back and absorb pressure but ultimately paid the price.
A stunning piece of defending by Sead Kolašinac, who somehow turned Richie Laryea‘s near certain goal onto the bar, looked like it would keep the Balkan side ahead before a fine move conjured up the home team’s leveller.
Qatar face the Swiss in the second Group B game in Santa Clara, California on Saturday.
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