Larin's Late Show Salvages Point as Canada Draw Blank Against Bosnia in World Cup Opener

Canada claimed a historic point in their World Cup journey on Friday, though they'll rue the chances that got away in a 1-1 stalemate with Bosnia and Herzegovina in a frantic Group B encounter.

Jovo Lukic had given the Balkans a 21st-minute lead with a tidy finish from a corner-kick flick-on, but Jesse Marsch's charges responded with sustained pressure that should have yielded more than a single goal by the final whistle.

The hosts carved out a golden opportunity to level in the 53rd minute when Richie Laryea bore down on goal, only for Sead Kolasinac to produce a last-ditch intervention that sent the shot cannoning off the crossbar. It proved a crucial moment—Bosnia weathered the subsequent onslaught, with the Canadians repeatedly finding the final ball wanting despite a relentless barrage of crosses into the box.

Jonathan David, the country's leading international goalscorer, had fluffed an earlier chance of his own in the opening stages, blazing a central opportunity straight at goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj when precision was required.

The deadlock finally broke when Cyle Larin, introduced from the bench in the 76th minute, produced an instant impact. Within three minutes, the Southampton forward swivelled sharply in the area and rifled home a deflected effort to level the match and send the home support into delirium.

Bosnia might have stolen victory themselves when Ermedin Demirovic broke clear shortly after Lukic's opener, but Maxime Crepeau—making his World Cup debut having missed the 2022 tournament through injury—produced a vital save to keep the scoreline level.

The result represents uncharted territory for Canadian football, marking their maiden World Cup point, though the manner of their performance suggests they'll feel genuine disappointment at not emerging with maximum points from a match in which they dominated significant spells.