Unbeaten Canada hold nerves in hard-fought draw against Ecuador

TORONTO – Feel like winning a draw?

For the Canadian men’s team, it’s when they’re down to 10 men at the start of a fiercely contested international friendly yet still find a way even against one of South America’s top nations.

Canada was forced to play short a man for the majority of Thursday’s contest at BMO Field against Ecuador that ended in a 0-0 stalemate after Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed was red-carded in the sixth minute. The result means Canada is now scoreless in three games, and extends the team’s goal drought to 319 minutes, a streak that dates back to the September international window.

However, Jesse Marsh said that he was “incredibly positive (about) this performance”, and spoke like a coach who only saw his side win a hard-fought battle.

“I told the team it might not have been our best win (it was a draw) but it might have been our most important. Because of the smarts and determination and understanding and understanding how to handle a good opponent, how to stay focused in a match for more than 90 minutes,” Marsh said in a post-match press conference.

It’s easy to forgive Marsh for thinking his team beat World Cup-bound Ecuador tonight, rather than taking the odds on offer.

There was much to like about Canada’s display against a nation currently ranked 23rd in the FIFA world rankings, five places above Marsh’s men. Topping the list of positives was the way the Canadians held their nerve, dug deep and didn’t let the game get away from them after Ahmed gave his marching orders.

“You know that guy next to you is going to fight for you,” Canadian goalkeeper Diane St. Clair said.

It was a disastrous start for the hosts thanks to Ahmed’s dismissal which came after he caught Ecuador midfielder Alan Franco with a high foot on the shoulder while contesting a 50/50 ball inside the visitors’ half. Franco sold it by going down in a heap while holding it to his chest, but it was an unnecessary and careless foul from Ahmed that deserved a sending off by Mexican referee Fernando Hernandez.

Not surprisingly, the visitors won the majority of the game and dominated (74 percent) due to their numerical advantage. But the South Americans managed just four shots in the game, none of which were on target, as they were unable to get behind Canada’s well-organized back line.

Under normal circumstances, center backs Joel Waterman and Kamal Miller are not starters for Canada. These are the pieces of excavation at best. However, a spate of injuries forced them into duty against Ecuador and the unlikely pair rose to the occasion. Waterman covered much of the ground, cleared several times, and was commanding in the air, while Miller held more than his own in a back line that was unbroken.

“I didn’t let them know who was going to be the center back pairing until 3:30 this afternoon. So, they had to be ready and ready for whatever decision was made. And everybody was very focused, disciplined. … (I’m) really happy with these guys,” Marsh enthused.

It’s not easy for any team to play a man down. It’s even tougher when you’re trying to get scoring chances against an Ecuador side known for their defensive prowess. color Marathon scored just five goals in the South American qualifiers to punch their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and they arrive in Toronto on the back of a 13-game unbeaten streak with 10 clean sheets during that run.

But even though the South Americans went a man up, it was Canada who looked more dangerous going forward and had the best scoring chance of the game in the first half.

Franco misjudged a brilliant high ball played in from the back by Kamal Miller which allowed Richie Lauria to streak down the left before centering the ball inside the penalty area for Tani Oluwasi. The Villarreal forward fired a first-time shot from 10 yards out that looked destined for the back of the net, but goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez made himself big and came up with a brilliant save.

“It’s always difficult (to score) when you’re down a man for 90-plus minutes. But I think the chance we created with Tani was really good. We’ve got the goals in us. I’m not really worried about that. I’m very happy to see that we’re a very strong team defensively and tactically and conceptually,” Marsh said.

It was an ill-tempered contest that threatened to boil over several times, largely due to Ecuador’s chicanery that included shameless attempts to beat Canada after the whistle.

To their great credit, the Canadians remained disciplined and did not allow themselves to be dragged into the gutter by their South American opponents. In such difficult circumstances, it will be useful for Canada to maintain composure at next summer’s World Cup when the stakes and pressure will be much higher.

“I think it’s an incredible performance by the players. Obviously, we want to get more balls at home. But (in the circumstances), we treated the match as a World Cup game, and anything can happen in the group stage or the knockouts, and we have to be ready for everything. I think it’s a great lesson for the players,” Miller said.

There were also impressive efforts from Liaria and midfielder Stefan Eustace, who best embodied Canada’s determined attitude and physical strength on the night.

Eustáquio put in a solid shift on both sides of the ball, serving as both Canada’s creative fulcrum and its defensive linchpin in central midfield.

If Laria were in the NHL, he would be known as a disaster – the type of player who can get under the skin of opponents. The full-back was at his best against Ecuador on Thursday, while also defending with aggression and purpose.

“His personality (is) a big part of who we are. … He’s really, really important to us,” Marsh said.