Kolasinac's goal-line miracle keeps Bosnia ahead before late Canada equaliser

Sead Kolasinac delivered one of the saves of the World Cup 2026 group stage, hooking Richie Laryea’s curling effort off the line and onto the crossbar in the 53rd minute to keep Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of Canada in their Group B opener — only for the co-hosts to equalise late and earn a 1-1 draw.

Bosnia had taken the lead through a Jovo Lukic strike in the 21st minute, assisted by Kolasinac himself, before Canada pressed relentlessly in search of a response. Laryea snuck into the box and curled a right-footed effort past Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, but the former Arsenal defender stretched out a foot at the last moment, sending the ball ricocheting off the crossbar and away from danger. BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce called the intervention “as good as a goal”.

The drama did not end there. Moments after the clearance, Ermedin Demirovic was sent clean through on the Canadian keeper but failed to convert, denying Bosnia what would have been a memorable counter-punch.

Canada eventually found their equaliser late in the match through a combination between two substitutes. Promise David teed up Cyle Larin, who drove a precise strike into the right side of the net past Vasilj to make it 1-1.

The evening ended on a concerning note for Bosnia, however. Shortly after the equaliser, Kolasinac went down on the pitch and required medical attention before being helped off, relinquishing the captain’s armband as he departed. The nature and severity of his injury were not immediately confirmed.

Despite the setback, Kolasinac’s clearance and his earlier assist ensured Bosnia left with a point from a game that could easily have gone against them. His side face Switzerland next in Group B, while Canada turn their attention to Qatar as Jesse Marsch’s team search for their first win of the tournament.