November 13, 2025
Canada and Ecuador draw in Toronto
On a brisk November evening at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada and Ecuador played to a goalless draw – but that was probably a result that Canada will be happy to have escaped with.
While on paper, this contest was billed as international friendly match – there was nothing friendly about it on the pitch, as both teams played a gritty and chippy game that saw its fair share of fouls and after whistle pushing and shoving, as well as a slew of cards issued as well.
See Also: Canada defeated by Australia at Stade Saputo in Montreal
Just six minutes into the game, Canadian winger Ali Ahmed was issued a straight red card for what appeared to be an accidental foul. An action that most likely changed the path of the game.
Ecuadorian defender Alan Franco Palma was about to play the ball as it fell to him, when Ahmed lunged in with a high boot that he planted into back of Palma, dropping him to the ground. While the challenge was reckless, a straight red card seemed harsh.
Nonetheless, Ahmed was sent off, slapping his hands against the turf in frustration as the card was shown, and Canada now would have to play out the majority of the match down a man, and against a strong opponent that haven’t lost in their thirteen past contests.
Canada, on the other hand, haven’t scored a goal since September 9th against Wales, and the pitch was now seriously slanted against them.
Despite all this, Canada held their own and were finding themselves with ball possession and fending off the counter attacks that were coming from Ecuador. Although none of Ecuador’s attempts really trouble Canadian ‘keeper Dayne St. Clair.
In the thirteenth minute, Richie Laryea received a long ball in from Kamal Miller and came streaking down the side of the pitch, placing a beautiful cross into the box that found Tani Oluwaseyi, who hit the ball well but square at goalkeeper Hernan Galindez, who parried the chance away. Oluwaseyi really should have done better with the placement of his shot, as that is the type of chance that comes to a player only once in a blue moon. This was the epitome of Canada’s goal scoring drought – golden chances that lack finish.
Perhaps tensions were high following the Ahmed straight red card, because the remainder of the game was a physical affair that saw a good deal of fouls committed by both sides, and there were seemingly clashes that lead to pushing and shoving at every stoppage of play. A lack of discipline that lead to multiple moments in which referee Fernando Hernández Gómez could have been more strict and imposed more cards upon players than he had.
Despite Canada being down a man, Ecuador struggled to create openings and find chances. Both sides earned cracks at each others net, but nothing of note from Canada or from Ecuador, as both squads seemed more fixed of the physicality of the match over the end result.
As Canada’s roster rotation continues, partially due to injury and partially due to head coach Jesse Marsch evaluating his options ahead of the upcoming World Cup, surely his concerns will fall on this being the third consecutive match in which Canada has failed to score. Sure, the sending off of Ahmed threw a wrench into the game plans, but the problem still remains; Canada is lacking quality when it comes to finishing.
Still, holding Ecuador, who are ranked twenty-third in the world, off the score sheet has to offer a certain amount of comfort, and the argument can be made that two or three key members of the squad were unavailable, Marsch has his work cut out for him while we await news if whether or not Friday’s planned match in Florida against Venezuala will take place ahead of geopolitical issues.
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While Canada’s lack of goal scoring continued, the squad tonight earned a pass on that front, having to play the majority of the match with ten men; but going forward, Jesse March’s squad really need to pull the proverbial monkey of their backs and regain their form, and start putting the ball into the net.
Tonight’s sellout crowd of 28,740 fans signals the second to last match (AFC Toronto plays Vancouver Rise FC in the NSL cup final tomorrow night) before BMO Field undergoes serious work to get the stadium ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will expanded the seating to over 50,000.
