Canada coach Marsch pleased with team's courage in World Cup draw with Bosnia

TORONTO, June 12 : Canada coach Jesse Marsch said he was pleased with how his team responded to rescue a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup Group B opener on Friday, which marked the country's first ever point in the tournament. 

A goal from Bosnia's Jovo Lukic in the 21st minute did not deter Canada, whose sustained pressure in the second half eventually paid off when substitute striker Cyle Larin found the net in the 78th minute shortly after coming off the bench. 

"I told them after the match that if we play like that second half, the whole match, we win," Marsch said.   

"I told them we've got to learn these lessons and we've got to learn them quick," he said. "We still have everything in hand, that's a really big point for us."

It seems fitting that Canada's first World Cup goal on home soil came from the 31-year-old Larin, who is second on their all-time top-scorers' list behind Jonathan David.

"Kyle wasn't happy about not starting," Marsch said of the striker who bagged eight goals for Southampton in the Championship this season. 

"But I said to him, 'Look, you've had a great year at Southampton, whether you've started or come off the bench, you've had an impact in every game, and now you have to wrap your mind around that.' And he did."

Marsch said his team upped the tempo in the second half as they produced more promising attacks in their hunt for an equaliser. 

"We could see that (Bosnia) were fading," Marsch said, adding that he knew his side's youth, fitness and speed had the potential to wear down Bosnia. "So, I told them that we've got them now. 

"It's time to put your foot on the jugular and go for the goal."

MARSCH UNHAPPY WITH CANADA'S FIRST HALF

Canada enjoyed decent spells of possession in