LIVE UPDATES: Canada fights for equalizer against Bosnia-Herzegovina in co-host's opening FIFA World Cup match

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Why FIFA World Cup tickets aren't selling out in Toronto

It brings me no joy to report this, and I waited until halftime to make sure, but there’s a smattering of empty seats here at Toronto Stadium.

Some are high up at the corners of the upper deck, but others are prime lower-level seats.

It’s disappointing to see when pretty much every Torontonian knows a soccer fan who would love to be here, but were just priced out. 

That wasn't the first half Canada wanted at home.

For all the pressing they've done to win nine corners (to Bosnia-Herzegovina's one), the co-hosts find themselves down 1-0 at the break.

It's not entirely undeserved. The Canadians were nervous and a little sloppy in the opening 25 minutes, and while they looked better coming back from the hydration break, they haven't done a good job testing Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

We can point to their superior possession (66 per cent), their 21 touches in Bosnia-Herzegovina's box and 164 accurate passes as positives. But when every game matters as much as it does in the World Cup, the only number that matters is the score.

Canada has 45 minutes to change that in its favour. 

I'm at a watch party in the Victoria suburb of Langford, B.C. I had my back to the game when the first goal was scored back in the first half, and I didn’t realize what had happened because it was so quiet. 

But then I heard two lone voices cheering their hearts out. Bosnian sisters Alma and Aldijana Lemo, who live here, said they weren’t even sure at first either — but when they realized, they went nuts.

Cornelius's header from Canada's ninth corner is the final major action of the first half as the hosts go into the break down by a goal.

After escaping a couple of certain yellows, Bosnia-Herzegovina get their first two bookings in quick succession. 

The Argentine referee first showed Ermedin Demirović a yellow card after he caught Derek Cornelius on the defender's pass attempt. Jovo Lukić joined Demirović in the book with a high boot.

The tension’s still high as we sneak toward halftime. 

As Jan said, Canada’s racking up the corner kicks, but they haven’t produced enough genuine scoring chances. 

Bosnia’s defence looks sharp – consistently picking off Canadian passes just as the situation gets dangerous. 

Canada has 45 minutes to figure out how to crack this code. 

As of the 40th minute, Canada had eight corners but they've been unable to make any of them count. The Canadians can't seem to find a solution to the Bosnians' superior height.

Canada's pressing and — to my untrained eye, at least — beating Bosnia to the ball on a lot of plays.

But can they deliver the finishing blow?

It’s heart-racing stuff every time a Canadian player slips free of their mark. But there's also a sick feeling when Bosnia goes out racing on the counterattack.

A path to goal opens up for Oluwaseyi in the Bosnian box, but he sends his curling shot well off target. That's two huge opportunities that Canada's attackers would love to have back.

Canada was given an opportunity to test Vasilj again after winning a free kick to the goalkeeper's right. But the low pass by Eustáquio didn't even lead to a half-chance, and it's a wasted opportunity.

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