HOUSTON - In a match characterized by its physical nature, the United States and Canada played to a 0-0 draw Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Though there were no goals on the evening, the North American neighbors played as if there was more on the line than just a result in a friendly. Both sides committed a combined 40 fouls (a game-high 22 by Canada), but only three of the 16 total shots were on goal.

Despite the uneven play, there was a detectable dedication to creating opportunities. Understandably, due to it being early in the season, neither team could manufacture the requisite decisive pass that could have settled the game.

For youthful Canada, the result was especially satisfying, as it rebounded from a 4-0 loss to Denmark on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.

"We were disappointed with aspects of our performance on Saturday but the boys showed everything you would expect of Canadian football in terms of heart, passion and endeavor tonight," interim head coach Colin Miller told CanadaSoccerTV after the match. "I'm very proud of the players, everyone has been totally committed since I've arrived."

Canada's Dwayne De Rosario had the best chance of the match in the sixth minute, but his snap attempt from close range was palmed away by quick acting U.S. goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. head coach, gave five players their first international appearance with the senior team. Three of the four starting defenders made their debut: left back Tony Beltran, center back Matt Besler and right back Justin Morrow. Forward Will Bruin and midfielder Alfredo Morales also earned their first caps as second-half subs.

"Overall we are really pleased with what we saw the last three weeks from these guys, and we want to give them a big compliment on how they worked and how much work they put in," said Klinsmann. "You could see that all that work wore on their legs, and they were missing the last little piece to it in creating final chances, playing the killer ball into the box, and finishing things off.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't do that tonight against a very defensive-minded Canada. We tried a couple of different formations and all kinds of combinations, and it was good to see the players trying to find ways to score that one goal that didn't come."

One of the Americans' better opportunities came in the 19th minute following some fluid combination play between forward Chris Wondolowski and midfielder Brad Davis. The sequence resulted with a modest Wondolowski effort from distance that goalkeeper Simon Thomas, making his first start for Canada, saved with little difficulty.

In the 66th minute, a header by center back Omar Gonzalez off a free kick from Benny Feilhaber just missed the upper left corner of the goal.

It was the second consecutive goalless draw between past CONCACAF Gold Cup champions. They previously battled to a stalemate last June in Toronto.

The U.S. will next take the field on February 6, when it travels to San Pedro Sula to meet Honduras in the opening match for each in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.

Canada, which was eliminated from Brazil 2014 contention last October, will face Japan on March 22 in Doha, Qatar.