Eustáquio Strikes in Stoppage Time as Canada Edge South Africa 1-0

INGLEWOOD, California (AP): Stephen Eustáquio found the net two minutes into added time at the end of the second half yesterday, and Canada held on for a 1-0 win over South Africa — the country's first success in the knockout phase of a World Cup.

The contest at SoFi Stadium looked set to go to extra time until Eustáquio, who turns out for Los Angeles FC a short distance from the venue, drove a crisp volley from beyond the box into the lower corner past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Co-host Canada closed out the match with disciplined defending in the closing stages of the tournament's opening round-of-32 fixture. Jesse Marsch's side will meet either the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday, 4 July.

When the final whistle blew, Marsch pulled his players together and addressed them with visible emotion. "You guys are Canadian heroes! Canadian heroes for the future children of this country who play this sport. This sport has a big future because of you guys. You should be so proud of who you are. You should be so proud of this game."

Canada had opened its campaign with three home fixtures in Toronto and Vancouver during only its third appearance at the finals. That changed after a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland last Wednesday, when the team became the first World Cup host nation obliged to contest a knockout tie away from home soil.

Even so, the Canadians drew loud backing across the Los Angeles region from travelling supporters and local well-wishers alike, including fans in Eustáquio's LAFC colours who could hardly have scripted a better afternoon.

"We never stopped believing," Eustáquio said. "And I think the goal is really something that we deserved."

Williams produced five stops for South Africa, whose players fought with real conviction before succumbing in the dying moments as Bafana Bafana chased another landmark result. Canada carried the greater threat throughout, yet the underdogs held their shape at the back and fashioned several sharp openings of their own.

"We lost the game because there was a lack of power and speed in our team when I compare that with our opponents," South Africa coach Hugo Broos said.

The breakthrough arrived when Alistair Johnston sent a deep ball into the area, a clearance fell kindly for Eustáquio, he controlled it on his chest, struck it cleanly, and was already turning away in celebration.

Having finished runners-up in their groups, both nations entered the tie chasing a first-ever World Cup knockout-round win. It was the sole round-of-32 match played yesterday.

Canada received a lift in the 75th minute when star defender Alphonso Davies entered for his first minutes of the tournament. The Bayern Munich full-back had sat out the group stage after hamstring trouble last month — his third such setback this year — but made his return at the same ground where he ruptured a knee ligament in March 2025 during Concacaf Nations League action.

Davies promptly supplied the day's finest pass to tee up Promise David, though the forward dragged his effort wide.

South Africa had booked their place in the last 32 with a 1-0 win over South Korea last Wednesday, a result widely regarded as among the finest in Bafana Bafana's uneven international record.