Canada and Mexico play to chippy, scoreless draw in Texas, as teams commit 41 total fouls

Canada and Mexico played to a scoreless draw Tuesday in a men's soccer game that was a friendly in name only.

Mexico, ranked 17th in the world, played a physical game from the start, bundling over the 40th-ranked Canadians at will. But while there were far more fouls (43 in total, with Mexico called for 24) than scoring chances, each goalkeeper had to make a highlight-reel save to keep a clean sheet.

American referee Victor Rivas, the 2023 MLS Referee of the Year, was kept busy. He handed out seven yellow cards, four to Mexico and three to Canada — and could have shown more.

"It's a compliment to the progress that we've made as a team that a team like Mexico comes into this match and that's their strategy," said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.

Canada was coming off a 2-1 weekend win over the 16th-ranked U.S. in Kansas City, marking its first victory over the Americans on U.S. soil since 1957.

"Overall I think we've taken another pretty big step forward in our development," said Marsch.

WATCH | Canada, Mexico settle for scoreless draw in physical friendly contest:

Not many were on hand to see Tuesday's drab affair. Attendance was announced at 32,623 at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

Mexico outshot Canada 10-5 (3-1 in shots on target) and had 52 per cent possession. But while Canada looked to play the ball up the pitch, Mexico — unsuccessfully — opted for the long ball in a blunt instrument approach to attack for much of the game.

Tempers flared in the 18th minute when Bournemouth defender Julian Araujo was yellow-carded after catching Canada captain Alphonso Davies with a studs-up challenge. Cesar Huerta followed Araujo into the book in the 26th minute.

Mexico was called for 13 fouls in