Lunin Remained Unused Substitution in Ukraine’s Heavy Defeat Against Canada

The Real Madrid goalkeeper did not get any minutes in Ukraine’s first game of their Canadian tour.

Andriy Lunin remained an unused substitute as Ukraine suffered a heavy defeat to Canada in their opening match of the Canadian Soccer Shield, a four-nation invitational tournament currently taking place in Toronto. The competition features hosts Canada alongside Ukraine, Ivory Coast, and New Zealand—serving as a final tune-up for Canada’s CONCACAF Gold Cup preparations.

The match was held at BMO Field, the home of MLS side Toronto FC, and it quickly slipped away from Ukraine’s grasp. Canada struck three times within the first 30 minutes, capitalizing on transition opportunities with ruthless efficiency. The early goals left Ukraine stunned, and head coach Serhiy Rebrov brought on Shakhtar’s Dmytro Riznyk for Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin in the second half, keeping Lunin on the bench throughout the 90 minutes. Villarreal’s Tajon Buchanan added a fourth for Canada in the 81st minute.

Lunin, who featured in 14 matches for Real Madrid during the 2024–25 season, was active during the pre-match and half-time warm-ups, but did not get the chance to feature in the game. Having played an important role during Thibaut Courtois’ injury absence, the Ukrainian international is expected to serve as a reliable backup under new manager Xabi Alonso. His next opportunity to play might come in Ukraine’s second game of the tournament, scheduled for June 10th against New Zealand—again at BMO Field.

Following the conclusion of the Canadian Soccer Shield, Lunin will report to Real Madrid as they prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States. Managing Madrid had representation in the press box of BMO Field for this game.