Toronto. Canada earned its first World Cup point in seven matches on soccer’s biggest stage, and coach Jesse Marsch credited the sea of red-clad, maple leaf-waving fans continuously chanting “Go Ca-na-da!” with helping inspire the comeback.

A slow start and an early deficit turned into a rousing celebration when late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute for a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in Canada’s tournament debut on home soil.

Playing in the shadow of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, and with hockey star Connor McDavid and actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers in attendance, Larin converted Promise David’s pass just two minutes after entering the match.

“The crowd, I think, willed us into the game as the players could feel that energy in the second half tilting more and more,” Marsch said. He was especially amused to learn Myers — who portrayed international man of mystery Austin Powers in the movies — was among those in attendance.

“Oh, sweet,” Marsch said.

It was an even better feeling for Larin, who usually starts but had to wait patiently on the bench until late in the second half.

“It was an amazing feeling, just to score a goal on home soil, where I’m from, and celebrate with the fans. Amazing atmosphere,” said Larin, who plays for English second-division club Southampton and hails from the Toronto suburb of Brampton.

The goal was only Canada’s second in World Cup play after the team lost all three of its matches at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and again four years ago in Qatar.

Injury replacement Jovo Lukic headed in a corner kick in the 21st minute for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is making its second World Cup appearance. The team previously played at the 2014 tournament in Brazil but failed to advance from group play.

Starting in place of Edin Dzeko (shoulder) and Haris Tabakovic (undisclosed), Lukic was perfectly positioned to finish the set piece after captain Sead Kolasinac flicked on a header from Ivan Basic’s corner. The goal was Lukic’s first in international play, coming in the 27-year-old striker’s fourth appearance for the national team.

Despite surrendering the lead, the small Balkan nation of about 3 million people continues to punch above its weight internationally, including eliminating four-time champion Italy in the European playoffs.

Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez expressed satisfaction with how his team handled the atmosphere.

“This is huge pressure, and it’s a huge compliment for my team not to have succumbed to that pressure,” Barbarez said through a translator. “I’m very satisfied with that aspect of the game, too.”

Though most of the 43,000 fans filling the temporarily expanded Toronto Stadium along the shores of Lake Ontario supported Canada, a small but vocal contingent of Bosnian fans dressed in blue stood out in the upper deck.

Bosnia next heads west for matches against Switzerland on June 18 in Los Angeles and Qatar on June 24 in Seattle.

Canada also travels west to Vancouver for its remaining group-stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.

Marsch’s challenge now is getting his team to start matches with the same intensity it showed after halftime.

“I told them after the match that if we play like that in the second half for the whole match, we win, right?” he said.

“We’ve got to find a way to have a bit more confidence and self-belief,” he added. “The good part was that in a difficult moment we responded.”

Before Larin’s equalizer, Canada’s best chance came in the 54th minute when captain Stephen Eustaquio slipped the ball to Richie Laryea in front of a wide-open net. The shot deflected off Kolasinac’s foot and struck the crossbar.

Canada played without Alphonso Davies (hamstring), who scored the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal four years ago in Qatar.

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