Canada's World Cup Send-Off Ends in Draw Against Ireland
Chiedozie Ogbene crashed Canada’s World Cup send-off party with a poacher’s finish, as Ireland clawed back for a 1-1 draw in Montreal on Friday night.
What was meant to be a smooth final rehearsal for Jesse Marsch’s side turned into a reminder of how thin the margins will be this summer.
Canada strike first, with a slice of fortune
Canada’s breakthrough came on a set piece rather than a sweeping move. In the 24th minute, Stephen Eustáquio whipped in a corner and chaos followed. Ireland defender Jake O’Brien, stationed in front of goal, diverted the ball into his own net under pressure. No Canadian touch, but Canada didn’t care. They had the lead and, for a spell, the control.
Marsch had shuffled his back line, handing a start at center back to Luc de Fougerolles in place of Moïse Bombito, who is still managing his return from a fractured tibia and was seen icing his leg after coming off at halftime against Uzbekistan. The change looked steady enough early on as Canada kept Ireland at arm’s length.
Ogbene punishes Larin’s lapse
The game turned on one reckless moment.
Ireland had been probing without much incision when Cyle Larin, freshly signed to a two-year deal with Southampton earlier in the day, lunged into a clumsy challenge on Jamie McGrath in the box. The referee pointed straight to the spot. A tune-up match suddenly had an edge.
Troy Parrott stepped up, struck low, and saw his effort beaten away by Maxime Crépeau, who guessed right and punched clear. It should have been a statement save from Canada’s newly anointed No. 1.
Instead, it became Ogbene’s moment. The Ireland forward reacted first, pouncing on the rebound and smashing it home in the 60th minute. One-all, and Canada’s grip on the evening loosened.
Crépeau’s redemption and Canada’s questions
Crépeau, who has won the World Cup starting job ahead of Dayne St. Claire, knows all about setbacks and recoveries. He missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after breaking his leg in the MLS Cup final with LAFC. This night offered a small personal arc: from penalty hero to helpless bystander, then back to savior.
As Ireland grew bolder, they almost stole it late. In the 85th minute, Mason Melia burst through and seemed certain to flip the script completely. Crépeau stood tall, closed the angle, and smothered the chance with a sharp stop. It was one of two saves on the night, but it felt bigger than the numbers.
Ireland, absent from this year’s World Cup, played with the freedom of a side with nothing to lose and nearly sent Canada into the tournament on a sour note.
Davies absent, World Cup looming
Canada’s performance came with a sizeable asterisk: no Alphonso Davies. The captain remains sidelined by a hamstring injury picked up with Bayern Munich, and there is still no timeline for his return. His absence hung over the evening as Canada tried to manufacture threat without their most explosive weapon.
This draw followed a more routine 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Edmonton on Monday. Now the tune-ups are over. The real thing is next.
Canada open their World Cup campaign on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B, then fly west to Vancouver to face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
The rehearsal in Montreal did not end in victory. It did, however, offer a clear message: without Davies, and with lapses like Larin’s in both boxes, how ready are Canada for the scrutiny and strain of a World Cup month?
