Chiedozie Ogbene Equalizes for Ireland Against Canada
Chiedozie Ogbene struck a sharp equaliser in Montreal to stretch the Republic of Ireland’s unbeaten run, as John O’Shea’s side held World Cup co-hosts Canada to a 1-1 draw that asked as many questions of the hosts as it answered.
Canada strike first through Irish misfortune
In a city already tuning itself to World Cup fever, Canada started like a team desperate to justify the hype. They pressed high, snapped into challenges and forced Ireland back towards their own box.
The breakthrough, when it came on 24 minutes, owed everything to pressure and a slice of Irish misfortune. Stephen Eustaquio whipped in a corner with pace, Jake O’Brien rose to deal with it, and instead glanced his header into his own net. A defender doing the right thing, in the wrong way, at the worst possible time.
Canada had the lead without registering a moment of genuine attacking brilliance. Ireland, briefly rattled, had to steady themselves.
Parrott denied, Ogbene punishes
Ireland’s response after the break carried more bite. Passes went forward quicker, runners broke lines, and Canada’s back line began to feel the weight of the green shirts.
The pressure finally told when Jamie McGrath burst into the box and Cyle Larin clattered into him. The forward, fresh from signing a two-year deal with Southampton earlier in the day, mistimed his challenge and left the referee with little choice. Penalty.
Troy Parrott stepped up, eye to eye with Maxime Crepeau. The Canada goalkeeper guessed right, parried the spot-kick and for a split second looked like the hero of the night. Then Ogbene arrived.
Alert, aggressive, ruthless. He pounced on the rebound and thumped it home on 60 minutes. From nowhere, Ireland were level and the mood inside the stadium shifted.
Crepeau stands tall, Ireland threaten late
The equaliser stung Canada. Jesse Marsch’s side tried to regain control, but Ireland sensed there was more than a draw on offer. They pushed higher, moved the ball with more conviction and forced the hosts into mistakes.
Mason Melia, full of energy and ambition, almost stole the headlines. Driving through the heart of the Canadian defence late on, he bore down on goal with the game stretched and the home crowd anxious. Again, Crepeau came to Canada’s rescue, standing firm to block the chance and preserve the draw.
For the Orlando City goalkeeper, it was a poignant night. He missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after breaking his leg in the MLS Cup final; now he is back, central to a team about to open a home World Cup, making the kind of saves that shape tournaments.
Canada look ahead, Ireland keep building
Canada will not dwell on the dropped win for long. Their World Cup starts for real on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, before dates with Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. All of it, for now, without captain Alphonso Davies, still sidelined by a hamstring injury picked up with Bayern Munich.
Ireland, watching this World Cup from the outside after failing to qualify, used the night to reinforce a different message: they are awkward, organised, and increasingly hard to beat. They left Montreal with a draw, a statement performance against a tournament host, and the sense that if chances like Melia’s begin to fall their way, these resilient nights could soon turn into notable wins.
