In clinching victory at Swansea City’s stadium on Tuesday night, Canada boss Jesse Marsch reached 50% of the number of wins compatriot Bob Bradley secured during his time in the dug-out at the host club.
But it left a bitter taste in the mouth of Craig Bellamy - who was quick to state his hatred for losing after suffering defeat in a home fixture for the first time of his reign as Wales boss.
Derek Cornelius’ sublime free-kick in the 41st minute ultimately settled a contest that was anything but friendly.
Referee Robert Jones issued a total of five yellow cards in the first half alone, three of which went to the hosts.
It meant Wales picked up three yellow cards in the first 45 minutes of a game for the first time since beating Belgium 3-1 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
There were also the late 'celebrations' of the Canadian coaching staff which angered Bellamy - who later spoke of his desire to reunite with Marsch's side at next year's World Cup.
As for the squad, Ronan Kpakio, Joel Colwill and Kai Andrews all made their debuts in the 1-0 defeat to follow in the footsteps of Dylan Lawlor, who played from the outset five days earlier against Kazakhstan.
In truth, Tuesday's match showed this young crop are not yet ready for senior international football, but the exposure will do wonders for their progress.
Kpakio, who has been hugely impressive for Cardiff City this season, in particular, struggled. He was incredibly fortunate not to concede a penalty in the opening minutes and looked shaky before being withdrawn in the second half.
But this is an 18-year-old who has made just 14 appearances in the men's game at club level.
As Bellamy said of the right-back: "It was a matter of time before he played for us, so why not now?"
He will return to Cardiff City Stadium, better for his evening's work against an incredibly dynamic and athletic Canada side.
Former Wales centre-back Ashley Williams simply said: "Don't let it knock your confidence. It was a tough game for him but he did some good things as well."
Elsewhere, Charlie Crew, on his first senior start for his country, had a tough task as Wales struggled to gain control in central areas, although he did show flashes of quality on the ball.
Similar applied to the likes of Colwill and Andrews who, along with Kpakio, Bellamy admits were understandably nowhere near the levels of the experienced members in the squad.
READ MORE: Craig Bellamy Wants Wales-Canada Re-Match . . . At The World Cup
Again, to some extent, this was entirely expected, but as the head coach put it: "I learnt that some of our senior boys were outstanding.
“Some of the young boys, we have to expose them.
"We can see the gulf, we knew that was going to be the case. But if we don't do it, when are we going to do it?"
There was a welcome return to the international fold for Rhys Norrington-Davies, who made his first Wales appearance in almost exactly three years following a wretched run with injuries.
Fresh from being overlooked for Cardiff's Lawlor in Kazakhstan, Ben Cabango - who expertly guided Kpakio through some rocky moments - produced a fine display in Wales' back four on familiar territory to show he is a more than capable understudy to his nation's first choice central defenders.
Captain Ben Davies - who could win his 100th cap against Belgium next month - and Harry Wilson were again superb, although that's nothing new.
READ MORE: Wales Suffer First Home Defeat Under Craig Bellamy as Canada Strike in Swansea
This is also a squad that has key first team players in Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon to return in the near future, while the likes of Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore, Danny Ward, Aaron Ramsey, Connor Roberts, Rubin Colwill and Jay Dasilva are also due to return from injury.
Friendly fixtures are rarely thrilling, and Tuesday's contest was no exception.
But Bellamy and Wales' more inexperienced men will take a huge amount from locking horns with Marsch's impressive Canadian side.
That form of shock therapy can only benefit the nation across the future cycles to come.
READ MORE: Wales Boss Craig Bellamy Insists Premier League is now Land of the Cyborgs
