The opening line to one of the must-read soccer books of our time, Fever Pitch, was never truer than it was for the majority of Canada's World Cup opening match. The hundreds of fans in the Ice District's party tent were quiet as Canada tried to claw back from a 1-0 deficit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There were cries of agony as the big screens displayed chance after chance that went begging. Jonathan David shot right at the keeper. Tani Oluwaseyti shot over the goal. And Richie Laryea's shot was deflected off the bar thanks to a last-ditch Bosnian block. It was as if a force field was placed around the Bosnian goal.
Canada's Dominance Frustrated
Canada had the bulk of possession, but attack after attack was repelled by a Bosnian back line that looked more like a basketball team than a collection of soccer players.
Bosnia Strikes First
Bosnia got the lead early, sending a small section of blue-and-yellow clad fans in the Ice District into rapture. Jovo Lukic, the hulking striker who plays professionally in Transylvania, sucked the life out of all of Canada with his headed goal.
Late Equalizer Sparks Joy
But, as was the case on the field and Toronto and through watch parties across the country, the crowd roared to life with chants of “Ca-na-DA, Ca-na-DAAA” when Cyle Larin equalized late, with a volleyed effort that kissed off a Bosnian shin before finding the goal. With the 1-1 draw, Canada looks to be in a good spot to get to the round of 32.
Mixed Emotions for Fans
For Belmin Agic, who was born in Edmonton but whose parents came to Canada from Bosnia, the draw was a perfect result. He showed up with a group of family and friends wearing blue and yellow.
“I'm going to be representing my ethnicity, my country, you know. It's the first time we made the World Cup in 12 years, so you know I'm going to be rooting all over Bosnia,” he said. “Honestly, the best result would for me would be 1-1. If it was a draw, it would be good. That's because, of course, I want to support Canada, too.”
Noah Feraco joined his fellow members of the Voyageurs, the Canadian soccer program's official supporters' group, at their official watch party at the Canadian Icehouse, next to Rogers Place. He wished he could be in Toronto for the big game, but ticket prices in the thousands of dollars kept him in Edmonton.
“It hurts me that FIFA would try and price gouge everyone out of going to what could have been basically like our USA '94 moment, where everyone's like, 'We can actually play this sport and do better and get like all the kids into the game.' But it is what it is. Now, I'm just trying to enjoy it the best I can, and hopefully watch us do something in a World Cup.”
He's hopeful Canada will get out of the group stage. But, as a long-time supporter of the men's national team, he's been through disappointment and underachieving before. Friday represented the first time Canada has got a point at a World Cup.
