"History is about to be made," the stadium announcer boomed seconds before kick-off at Toronto Stadium, setting the stage for Canada's first ever World Cup match on home soil. The co-hosts, playing at just their third World Cup, were trailing to Jovo Lukic's first international goal – a first-half header that tested the foundations of the south stand, where 7,000 temporary seats had been erected to accommodate Bosnia's most ardent supporters.
Then came Cyle Larin. The substitute stepped off the bench in the 76th minute, replacing Tani Oluwaseyi, and with his first touch lashed home the equaliser just 121 seconds after his entrance. The shot carried the pent-up frustration of being left out of the starting lineup – and perhaps the disappointment of losing his chance to play in the Premier League next season after Southampton's expulsion from the playoffs.
“Cyle Larin's 78th-minute equaliser earns Canada their first ever World Cup point in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia.”
Jesse Marsch's side had always looked capable of a result. Juventus's Jonathan David missed a golden opportunity in the first half, and a preposterous Sead Kolasinac block sent the ball cannoning onto the crossbar to deny Richie Laryea. But it was Larin who delivered the moment the nation craved, prompting Ryan Reynolds, the American-Canadian Wrexham co-owner, to high-five supporters in the stands. Ice hockey star Connor McDavid was also in attendance.
Marsch's final words to Larin before sending him on were simple: "I said: 'Make sure you get yourself into the box, find ways to get chances and score.' And he did that, right away." The Canada manager, bursting with pride, acknowledged improvements are needed before facing Qatar in Vancouver on Thursday, but revelled in the response. "How awesome was it to see all of the red jerseys, the sea of red? In a difficult moment, we responded. I have to also thank the crowd, they willed us into the game and the place erupted when we got the goal."
The 1-1 draw earns Canada their first ever World Cup point, trumping their demoralising last outing when they finished pointless in Qatar four years ago. For the locals, a first World Cup game on Canadian soil represented an occasion that will not be forgotten.