Canada vs Ireland: World Cup Send-Off Ends in Draw
Canada’s World Cup farewell in Montreal never quite turned into the celebration it wanted. A 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday night offered flashes of control, a reminder of old scars, and one ruthless finish from Chiedozie Ogbene that silenced the party just as it was getting started.
This was the last look at Jesse Marsch’s side before the real thing begins. It felt exactly like that: polished in phases, jittery in others, and still missing the man who usually bends tight games their way, captain Alphonso Davies.
Early gift, early control
Canada struck first, but not through their own finishing. In the 24th minute, Stephen Eustáquio whipped in a corner that caused chaos in front of goal. Jake O’Brien, trying to deal with the delivery under pressure, diverted the ball into his own net. No Canadian touch, but a Canadian lead.
The goal settled Marsch’s team. They pressed higher, moved the ball with more confidence and, for a while, Ireland were chasing shadows. Cyle Larin, fresh off signing a two-year deal with Southampton earlier in the day, led the line from the start, offering the usual physical presence and smart movement, if not the decisive touch.
Behind him, Canada’s shape looked mostly assured. Maxime Crépeau, now confirmed as the No. 1 for the World Cup, was largely untroubled in the first half, directing a back line that featured Luc de Fougerolles at centre back. The youngster stepped in for Moïse Bombito, who had come off at halftime against Uzbekistan and was later seen icing his leg as he works back from a fractured tibia.
For a team still tuning up, it was steady, if unspectacular. Then the game turned.
A reckless challenge, a ruthless response
Ireland had offered little beyond hopeful forays until the hour mark, when Larin undid much of his earlier work in a moment of rashness. Chasing back into his own box, he crashed into Jamie McGrath with a clumsy, reckless challenge. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Troy Parrott stepped up, eyeing a clean equalizer. Crépeau guessed right, flung himself to his side and punched the penalty away, a save that briefly felt like a statement from a goalkeeper who once watched a World Cup from home with a broken leg.
The danger should have ended there. It didn’t.
The rebound spilled loose and Ogbene reacted faster than anyone in red. He crashed the ball into the net in the 60th minute, punishing Canada’s failure to clear and dragging Ireland level. One wild challenge, one slow reaction, and Canada’s advantage vanished.
The goal rattled the hosts. Ireland, liberated by the lifeline, pushed higher and snapped into tackles. The rhythm of the game changed. Canada, once comfortable, now had to scrap.
Crépeau’s redemption and a lingering question
As legs tired and spaces opened, both sides chased a winner. For Ireland, the best chance fell to Mason Melia in the 85th minute. He burst through, one-on-one, the away end already rising in anticipation. Crépeau stood firm, read the angle and smothered the effort, a sharp, decisive stop that preserved the draw and underlined why he has edged Dayne St. Claire for the starting role in goal.
He finished with two saves, but both were big. For a man who missed Qatar 2022 after breaking his leg in the MLS Cup final with LAFC, every minute now feels like a personal reclamation of what the last World Cup took away.
Ireland, not heading to this year’s tournament, played with the freedom of a side with nothing to lose. They left with a deserved draw and might have stolen more.
Canada, on the other hand, leave Montreal with mixed feelings. They beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in Edmonton earlier in the week, and the schedule only ramps up from here: Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12 to open Group B, Qatar in Vancouver on June 18, and Switzerland on June 24.
All of that, for now, without Davies. The Bayern Munich star remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and still has no clear return date. His absence hangs over every lineup, every attacking move that stalls a second too early.
Canada showed enough to believe they can compete. They also showed, in one rash penalty and one lost rebound, how thin the margins will be when the World Cup starts for real.
