Canada's World Cup Send-Off: Draw Against Ireland
Chiedozie Ogbene crashed Canada’s World Cup send-off party, and he needed just one rebound and a split second of instinct to do it.
Ireland’s winger pounced in the 60th minute in Montreal, burying a loose ball after Maxime Crépeau had saved Troy Parrott’s penalty, to seal a 1-1 draw in Canada’s final warm-up before the World Cup. It was a scrappy equalizer, but it carried the sting of a warning for a Canadian side about to step onto the biggest stage.
Canada strike first, with a slice of fortune
Jesse Marsch’s team had started the night with purpose. Without Alphonso Davies, still sidelined by a hamstring injury from his Bayern Munich duties, Canada leaned on set pieces and direct pressure to tilt the match early.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute and, fittingly for a tune-up, it arrived via chaos rather than craft. Stephen Eustáquio whipped in a corner, Ireland defender Jake O’Brien attacked the ball at the near post, and it flew past his own goalkeeper. The stadium roared, the scoreboard credited Canada, but the touch belonged to O’Brien.
It was harsh on Ireland, who had defended compactly to that point. For Canada, it was exactly the kind of dead-ball punch they will hope to replicate when the World Cup begins.
Larin’s rash moment opens the door
Canada carried that 1-0 lead into the second half, managing the tempo and looking relatively comfortable. Then Cyle Larin lunged in.
Ireland’s Jamie McGrath darted into the box and Larin, starting hours after signing a two-year deal with Southampton, mistimed his challenge. It was clumsy, late, and left the referee with a simple decision: penalty.
Parrott stepped up, Crépeau guessed right. The Canada goalkeeper, freshly anointed No. 1 ahead of Dayne St. Claire, punched away the spot kick and for a heartbeat looked like the hero of the night.
The reprieve lasted seconds. The rebound dropped into the six-yard box, the defense froze, and Ogbene reacted first, thundering the ball into the net. One-all, and suddenly the celebration felt like a test.
Crépeau’s redemption and Canada’s questions
For Crépeau, every minute matters. The LAFC keeper missed the 2022 World Cup after breaking his leg in the MLS Cup final, watching from afar as his country returned to the tournament without him. This time he has the gloves, and aside from the rebound he could do little about, he did his case no harm.
He finished with two saves, the most important arriving in the 85th minute. Ireland, emboldened by their equalizer despite not qualifying for this World Cup, almost stole the night when Mason Melia burst through. Crépeau stood his ground, read the run, and smothered the chance, preserving the draw and a measure of calm.
On the opposite touchline, Marsch continued to juggle his defensive options. Luc de Fougerolles started at center back, stepping in for Moïse Bombito, who is still nursing his way back from a fractured tibia and was seen icing his leg after coming off at halftime against Uzbekistan earlier in the week. It was another reminder that Canada’s back line is still being stitched together on the fly.
World Cup countdown starts now
The 1-1 draw follows a more straightforward 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Edmonton on Monday, a result that had briefly eased nerves around a team adjusting to a new coach, key injuries, and rising expectations.
Now the tune-ups are over. The margins tighten from here.
Canada opens its World Cup campaign on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B, then crosses the country to Vancouver to meet Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. Davies’ return remains a mystery, his hamstring still dictating the timeline.
Friday night in Montreal did not deliver a flawless farewell. It did, however, offer a clear picture: a Canada side capable of punching first, still learning how to keep its foot on the throat when the pressure swings back.
