The Canadian Men’s National Team found their first goal on home soil in the FIFA World Cup, and it was late substitution Cyle Larin who evened the score.
Larin came on in the 76th minute, and the veteran forward - who entered a tie with Jonathan Osorio for second-most international caps in Canada’s history - made his impact felt immediately.
Larin controlled a pass in the top of the box, let it bounce once and fired the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, beating the keeper handily and drawing Canada even at Toronto Stadium in the 79th minute.
Jovo Lukic put the ball in the net on a header on Bosnia & Herzegovina’s first corner kick of the game in the 21st minute. Bosnia & Herzegovina earned the corner after Richie Laryea knocked the ball out of bounds on a battle at the back line.
Canada found a great chance for an equalizer in the 55th minute of the match, when a sequence of pretty passes in the penalty box found Laryea alone in the penalty box with room to work. The veteran defender tried to shoot for the opposing corner, and though he beat the goaltender, Sead Kolasinac chipped the ball up and off the crossbar, and it bounced to safety seconds later.
Canada took the game’s first major chance just a few minutes before Bosnia & Herzegovina scored - Tani Oluwaseyi found some open space outside the penalty box after a quick throw caught Bosnia & Herzegovina off guard.
Oluwaseyi charged toward the box and fired a centering that pass that was unsuccessful, but the ball bounced toward Jonathan David, who was in a dangerous spot and lined up a shot on net.
David got a lot on his shot, but it did not make the Bosnian goaltender move very far to collect the chance and clear it out.
Canadian defender Alistair Johnston was shown the first yellow card of the game at 15 minutes, after a sloppy pass by Oluwaseyi let Amar Memic take off with some speed in the opposite direction. Johnston was forced to foul Memic to prevent a free break towards the Canadian goal.
Luc de Fougerolles was given a yellow in the second half for Canada after dragging a Bosnian attacker to the ground from behind.
Canada is looking to pick up a win in its Group B opener as they compete with Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia & Herzegovina to advance to the knockout stage.
