Canada vs Ireland: Ogbene's Late Equalizer in World Cup Warm-Up
Chiedozie Ogbene crashed home a rebound to snatch a 1-1 draw for Ireland and deny Canada a winning send-off in their final World Cup warm-up in Montreal on Friday night.
What was supposed to be a confident stroll into the tournament 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 early, and it came ugly.
In the 24th minute, Stephen Eustáquio whipped in a corner that caused chaos at the near post. Ireland defender Jake O’Brien, battling for position in front of goal, saw the ball glance off him and into his own net. No Canadian touch, no clinical finish — just pressure, a wicked delivery, and an unfortunate deflection that handed the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Canada didn’t care how it looked. In a week that had already brought a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in Edmonton, the goal seemed to confirm a squad building rhythm at just the right time.
Ogbene pounces after penalty drama
Ireland, absent from this year’s World Cup but not from the contest, grew into the game after the interval. Their reward arrived on the hour, and it came after Cyle Larin’s mistimed lunge turned the match.
Larin clattered into Jamie McGrath in the box, a reckless challenge that left the referee with a straightforward decision. Penalty.
Troy Parrott stepped up, but Maxime Crépeau guessed right, sprang to his side and punched the spot kick away. For a heartbeat, it looked like a defining World Cup statement from Canada’s newly anointed No. 1.
Then Ogbene arrived.
Alert, aggressive, first to react, he followed in and hammered the rebound past the stranded Crépeau to level it at 1-1. The stadium noise dipped. Ireland had their equalizer, and Canada had a problem to solve.
Crépeau’s redemption and Canada’s goalkeeping call
Crépeau, though, did not shrink. His night carried extra weight.
He has just won the battle for the starting job at this World Cup ahead of Dayne St. Claire, a decision that comes with history attached. Two years ago, the goalkeeper missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after breaking his leg in the MLS Cup final with LAFC. This tournament is his redemption arc.
He underlined his status late on. In the 85th minute, Mason Melia burst through with a clear sight of goal, but Crépeau stood tall and read the moment, closing the angle and smothering the chance. It was only his second save of the night, yet it felt like a keeper protecting more than just a scoreline.
Larin signs, Davies absent, questions remain
Larin’s evening was a mixed one. He started up front for Canada hours after signing a two-year deal with Southampton, a significant move for one of the national team’s key attacking figures. His rash penalty concession, though, will linger in the review room.
More concerning for Canada is who wasn’t on the pitch.
Captain Alphonso Davies remained out, still nursing a hamstring injury picked up with Bayern Munich. The national team has offered no timeline for his return. Every match he misses tightens the knot in Canadian stomachs with the World Cup opener fast approaching.
At the back, Marsch made another notable call, starting Luc de Fougerolles at centre-back in place of Moïse Bombito. Bombito, who is working his way back from a fractured tibia, had been seen icing his leg after being withdrawn at half-time against Uzbekistan. De Fougerolles stepped into a high-stakes audition and, aside from the own goal chaos that wasn’t of his making, helped keep Ireland from finding a winner.
World Cup countdown hits full speed
Canada now turns from rehearsals to the main event. The Group B campaign begins on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, before a cross-country shift to Vancouver for meetings with Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
The draw with Ireland will not trigger alarm bells, but it strips away any illusion of comfort. Without Davies, with Crépeau freshly installed and Larin juggling club change and national expectations, Canada enters this World Cup with talent, storylines, and just enough uncertainty to make the next month feel like a genuine test rather than a coronation.
