June 5, 2026
Maxime Crepeau rescues Canada versus Ireland
Just a day after Maxime Crepeau was named as the starting goalkeeper for the Canadian World Cup squad, Crepeau shone brightly in a one-all draw that saw the best the ‘keeper has to offer.
Incredibly, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is just week’s away, and as teams make some final adjustments, Ireland arrive in Montreal to test themselves against Canada at Stade Saputo. While the Irish won’t be making a World Cup appearance this time around, they offer Canada, one of the three hosts, an excellent chance to measure themselves against a solid squad.
See Also: CF Montreal and Portland Timbers draw at Stade Saputo
Early into the game, and Canada had earned a pair of solid chances that were turned away Everton goalkeeper Mark Travers – Canada held an advantage when it came to ball possession, but Ireland reputedly looked for and turnovers and pounced on the counter attack.
Canada took the lead in the twenty-third minute off of a lucky bounce. Liam Millar had drawn a corner kick off of a solid play. Stephen Eustaquio’s cross sailed into the Irish box, where it ping ponged off of several players before hitting Ireland’s Jake O’Brien and behind Irish goalkeeper Travers.
Ireland had several golden chances to tie the game that Crepeau miraculously kept out, seemingly everywhere the ball was, and quite frankly single-handedly kept Canada in the game on multiple occasions.
Canada’s Cyle Larin clipped Ireland’s Jamie McGrath in the face with a high foot in the fifty-seventh minute of play, preventing McGrath a prime scoring chance and causing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Troy Parrott stepped up to the spot for Ireland, chose a stutter-step and to shoot towards the left corner of the goal but Crepeau read the play wonderfully, and dove the same way to make the save. The ball bounced to the boot of Chiedozie Ogbene who put the ball into the back of the net, drawing the game equal.
With just eight minutes to play, Crepeau again was the difference maker, when a Irish counter attack resulted in Mason Melia being all along with the ball in the box, and somehow Crepeau still made the save. It should have been the game winning tally for the Irish – but as my Mother used to say, the luck of the Irish saying is sarcasm. Crepeau’s magic hands had kept the game level.
“He looked really good and sharp the whole game, was the last defender in a really good way,” said manager Jesse Marsch.”What a great save. What an incredible save.”
Seamus Coleman, the star defenseman who has played the past seventeen years with Everton, has announced that he will be parting ways with Everton at the end of the season – will be playing tonight against Canada and then will be weighing his options. Either with a new team or perhaps in a coaching role.
Read More:
>> Orlando City sunk by pair of late CF Montreal goals
>> FC Supra roll past Woodbridge Strikers at the Canadian Championship
>> CF Montreal demolish Calgary Blizzard in Canadian Championship
Now, all the preparations and planning are complete. All that is left to do now, is show up and prove to the world that Canada is a soccer nation. While it won’t be easy – nothing that has any value ever is. Canada has never so much as earned a point at a World Cup – but this too, is probably the strongest side Canada has ever put together.
Canada opens the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12th in Toronto before heading to Vancouver for group-stage matches against Qatar on June 18th and Switzerland on June 24th. There are still tickets available for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Toronto and Vancouver.
