For long periods of Canada’s opening Group B match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, it looked like the co-hosts were going to fail, but striker Cyle Larin came off the bench and calmed their nerves with an equalizer that secured a glorious first point.
Playing the country’s first men’s World Cup match at home, the Canadians enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created numerous chances.
However, a Jovo Lukic goal for the Bosnians in the 21st minute left the World Cup co-hosts in a deep hole and it fell to Larin to dig them out.
After spending 76 minutes on the bench after being left out of Jesse Marsch’s starting lineup, Southampton striker Larin had a point to prove and scored less than three minutes after making an excellent turn and shot.
“I mean, I want to play every game and I have worked all these seasons at my club to play every game, but sometimes you don’t have control, but I have to show it when I go into the game, and I showed today that I should play,” he told Canadian television.
Canada had a lot of success attacking down the wings and passing the ball into the box, but their attack lacked a dominant focal point and the Bosnian defense was able to handle most of what was thrown at them with relative ease.
That changed when Larin, 31, injected much-needed composure and control into a courageous display by the Canadians, scoring a goal that puts them in good stead ahead of their next match against Qatar in Vancouver on June 18.
“I think we have to stay focused at all times, and this is the World Cup,” Larin said. “I think we gave a set goal, and we just (should) build on this game.
“We’ll be playing at home in Vancouver again, and we just have to push the limits and be killer around the ball.”
Despite appearing under pressure from the home fans for most of the match, defender Alistair Johnston said they played a key role in Canada’s comeback.
“It felt like they probably put the ball in the net for us…we’re going to have to continue to build on that. We’re going to need that crowd with us,” he told Canadian television.
