Canada analysis: how co-hosts fell short of first World Cup win | OneFootball

Jovo Lukic opened the scoring after just 21 minutes, heading home from a corner to net his first international goal, but Larin’s introduction from the bench proved crucial for Jesse Marsche’s side.

The Southampton man guided a deflected half-volley into the bottom corner after a sharp turn inside the penalty area, but with a bit more end product the Canucks could’ve beaten a Bosnia side who were there for the taking.

Based on that showing, the Canucks have questions to answer about their end product. After a poor first half they dominated the second period, and saw a Richie Laryea effort cleared off the line by Sead Kolasinac before Larin’s equaliser.

Though not much can be done to account for the former Arsenal full-back’s expert defending, Canada simply didn’t create enough chances of real quality nor put them away – generating 1.25 xG from 13 attempts on goal, four on target.

For the most part this was down to sloppiness in midfield, with Marsch’s men in the middle repeatedly failing to find their composure when presented with good opportunities.

Ismael Kone and Iain Millar managed just one key pass between them, and had passing accuracies of 84% and 78% respectively.

Tajon Buchanan, meanwhile, and failed to find the mark with all three of his crossing attempts. Stephen Eustaqio did well with three key passes completed, but his efforts could not mitigate a lack of creativity from his teammates.

Though it’s worth remembering that many of their big attacking stars also underwhelmed. Jonathan David was not good enough, managing just one tame shot on target and three in total before being substituted after the hour mark.

David’s fellow striker Tani Oluwaseyi had a much quieter afternoon, with two attempts and an XG of 0.15.

In fact, David and Olusaweyi were so poor that it fell to second-half replacements Promise David (no relation) and Cyle Larin to rescue something for their nation, with Promise teeing up the ex-Southampton loanee’s second half strike.

Following such fine displays, and the torrid time their teammates endured, both substitutes will feel confident about their chances of starting next Thursday’s match against Qatar.

One massive positive for Jesse Marsch’s side was their defensive efforts. Aside from the opener from Lukic, Bosnia rarely threatened, with Alistair Johnston and Laryea both outstanding at left back and right back respectively.

Johnston made four clearances and three recoveries while Laryea managed to win all eight of his ground duels in addition to four out of five tackles.

Derek Cornelius also excelled with nine total defensive contributions, and Luc De Fougerolles completed a whopping eight clearances.

Unfortunately for Les Rouges, their stellar defending in open play was not matched by their performance at set pieces.

Time and again they were bullied in their box as Bosnia made first contact at every corner, to the point where Lukic’s first-half header from a fourth successive set piece felt less of a surprise and more like an inevitability.

The backline’s aerial duel statistics bear witness to such vulnerabilities. Although Johnston was successful in the only such battle he contested, none of his colleagues managed to win more than 50% of theirs.

De Fougerolles performance was particularly egregious, with the 20-year-old triumphing in a measly three out of 13 such clashes.

Now top of Group B after collecting fewer yellow cards, Canada will next take on Qatar in Vancouver, and their task is simple if they are to reach that elusive win at a World Cup at the eighth attempt: make the pressure in the final third pay.

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