Canada held – Canada’s final tune-up before the FIFA World Cup ended in a 1-1 draw with lower-ranked Ireland at Stade Saputo, with Ireland’s own goal handing Canada a first-half lead before Chiedozie Ogbene equalized early in the second half. The result came after a sharp s
The noise in Stade Saputo sounded like a warning and a comfort at the same time: 19. 619 red-clad fans and a section of Irish green. waiting for Canada to look like the team that can survive a World Cup group. Instead, the match slipped away in two directions, and Canada left Friday night with a 1-1 draw against lower-ranked Ireland.
Ireland took the lead before halftime through a moment that summed up how unsettled the final tune-up would feel. Ireland’s own goal put Canada ahead 1-0 in the 23rd minute of a one-sided first half. when Canada dominated play and carried 67 per cent possession. Even the shot numbers told the story: Canada led 9-1 in shot attempts, with 1-0 on target.
Then the second half arrived, and the match turned. Ireland was awarded a penalty after Canada striker Cyle Larin caught Jamie McGrath with a high kick in the 57th minute. Maxime Crépeau moved to his left to stop Troy Parrott’s initial attempt. and for a breath the crowd surged—briefly believing they’d seen the reset they needed. But Chiedozie Ogbene was there to convert the rebound, sending it into the net for the equalizer.
Canada almost responded immediately. Larin came close in the 70th minute. pushing a sharp-angled chance toward Ireland goalkeeper Mark Travers. who stretched out his right leg to make the stop. The Canadians kept pressing for a winner. but the clearest opening fell to Melia in the 83rd minute—right inside the moment. all alone in the box—only for Crépeau to produce a point-blank. diving save that kept the score level.
The game’s turning point was sealed by the penalty sequence. but its most uncomfortable detail for Canada was how the lead had been earned. Canada opened the scoring off a set piece thanks to an own goal from Ireland defender Jake O’Brien. with the equalization arriving just after Canada’s discipline wobbled. In the first half. Canada looked sharper and more inventive—Liam Millar drew a corner kick after a timely interception. and Stephen Eustaquio floated the ball into the six-yard box. It deflected off a pair of visiting players and crossed the goal line, giving Canada its advantage.
Millar continued to look dangerous down the left wing, cutting inside for multiple attempts that never found the net. Ireland, meanwhile, waited and hit back. The one real early scare for Canada came in the ninth minute when Derek Cornelius turned the ball over. Dawson Devoy slipped a shot past Crépeau, but Cornelius recovered and cleared from near the goal line.
Jesse Marsch made one change to his starting XI from Monday’s 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Edmonton. inserting Luc de Fougerolles for Moïse Bombito at centre back. Bombito stayed on the bench as his recovery from a fractured tibia continues. The 26-year-old central defender from Montreal played just 30 minutes against Uzbekistan on Monday and was seen icing his leg after being subbed off. Bombito was making his first appearance after a 239-day layoff.
In goal. Crépeau—an academy product from CF Montréal—started and shed tears during “O Canada” after Marsch named him Canada’s No. 1 goalkeeper for the global showcase. Up front. Larin lined up at striker alongside Juventus forward Jonathan David. while Eustaquio wore the captain’s armband with Alphonso Davies still working his way back from a hamstring ailment. Canada is also coping with other injuries on the 26-man roster, including Marcelo Flores, who suffered a torn ACL.
Marsch said Thursday that Canada would be patient with Bombito, whose club role is with France’s OGC Nice. “We’re going step by step. He had a bit of a reaction after the game in Uzbekistan. so it’s taking a little bit more time. ” Marsch said. “He’s a guy that we’re giving every opportunity to rebound from this and show that he can be ready to play. and we haven’t even started talking about secondary options.”.
He added that he would decide who replaces injured midfielder Marcelo Flores after Friday’s exhibition.
Canada’s World Cup schedule doesn’t wait for tune-up results. The tournament co-hosts open against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto before heading to Vancouver for group-stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Canada Ireland FIFA World Cup tune-up Stade Saputo Maxime Crépeau Chiedozie Ogbene Cyle Larin Jamie McGrath Jesse Marsch