Canadian men hold 13th-ranked Colombia to a scoreless draw in men’s soccer friendly

Canada's Derek Cornelius, right, goes up for a header during the first half of a friendly soccer match against Colombia in Harrison, N.J., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

HARRISON — Canada gave as good as it got for most of the game Tuesday before fending off a late charge to hold 13th-ranked Colombia to a scoreless draw in a soccer friendly.

The 26th-ranked Canadian men proved to be a handful for the South Americans with midfielder Stephen Eustaquio and winger Tajon Buchanan leading the way. But it speaks volumes about the team’s progress that Canada coach Jesse Marsch was not satisfied with shared honours with an elite opponent.

“I think it was a good performance, not a great performance … I felt like most of the game we were in fourth or fifth gear and we could have really pushed ourselves into sixth gear,” Marsch said.

“We are the type of team that can play in these games, be better in these games and win these games,” he added.

Scoring chances were few and far between for both teams until the frenetic final minutes. Colombia outshot Canada 6-4 with both sides managing just one shot on target.

There was no shortage of fouls with 38 called, including 23 fouls in the first half. American referee Guido Gonzales Jr., voted the 2024 U.S. Soccer Male Referee of the Year, had a busy evening.

Canada was coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 25 Australia in Montreal on Friday. Unable to penetrate a resolute Socceroos defence, the Canadians paid the price for a defensive blunder by fullback Niko Sigur, who rebounded with an excellence performance Tuesday.

While the Canadians failed to score during the international window, Marsch saw positives.

“I’m happy with the progress. And I just want to keep seeing them reward themselves with a little bit more quality in important moments,” he said referencing the lack of goals.

Buchanan forced a diving save from Colombia ‘keeper Álvaro Montero in the 28th minute with a long-range swerving shot after Tani Oluwaseyi bodied Richard Rios off the ball.

The game opened up in the second half and star winger Luis Diaz had a chance to put Colombia ahead in the 57th minute but his shot flashed just wide of the Canadian goalpost. Jonathan David put the ball in the Colombia goal in the 76th minute only to see the flag go up, with Jacob Shaffelburg judged to be just offside.

There was no video review available on the night.

Colombia came on strong in the dying minutes and substitute Rafael Santos Borré’s header went just wide in the 88th minute. Richie Laryea made a key tackle in stoppage time, disrupting an attack that saw the eventual Colombian shot hitting the goalpost. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair may have got a hand on the ball.

St Clair, who is battling Max Crepeau for the starting goalkeeper role, recorded his ninth clean sheet in 18 international appearances.

Canada had the lone shot on goal in the first half but was unable to take advantage of several Ali Ahmed set pieces. The Canadians appealed unsuccessfully for a handball in the Colombia box late in the half off one of Ahmed’s free kicks.

The game before a loud pro-Colombian crowd at Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls, was the first of three straight against South American opposition for the Canadian men.

Canada closes out its 2025 campaign with friendlies against No. 24 Ecuador at Toronto’s BMO Field on Nov. 13, and No. 49 Venezuela on Nov. 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The Canadian men are 6-2-4 this year, with two of those draws turning into penalty shootout losses (against the Ivory Coast and Guatemala).

Colombia scored a decisive 4-0 win over No. 14 Mexico on Sunday before 72,438 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Colombians had won three straight, outscoring the opposition 13-3, and were unbeaten in their previous six matches (3-0-3) since a 2-0 loss to Brazil in World Cup qualifying in March.

Colombia, which finished runner-up to Argentina at last year’s Copa America, has already booked its ticket to next year’s World Cup by finishing third in CONMEBOL qualifying with a 7-4-7 record.

Marsch made four changes to his starting lineup with Eustaquio, Oluwaseyi, St. Clair and defender Luc de Fougerolles slotting in. Eustaquio wore the captain’s armband.

Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool in July in a transfer worth a reported 75 million euros ($122.2 million), captained Colombia. He passed the armband to James Rodríguez when the star winger came off the bench to start the second half.

Laryea, who had another strong game, was cautioned in the 12th minute for taking down Diaz. And Colombia complained, to no avail, minutes later as the Toronto FC player needed more discipline for catching Rios with his boot as they went down in a tangle.

Liam Millar, Shaffelburg, Promise David, Zorhan Bassong and Mathieu Choiniere came on for Canada in the second half.

The Canadian men, who finished fourth at Copa America, are now 1-2-1 all-time against Colombia.

Canada defeated the South Americans 2-0 in the final of the 2000 Gold Cup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and lost in two friendlies: 1-0 in October 2014 at the same New Jersey venue and 3-0 in March 1988 in Armenia, Colombia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2025.