06/28/26 04:41:00
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06/28 16:40 CDT Canada beats South Africa 1-0 in World Cup's first knockout
match on late goal by Stephen Eustquio
Canada beats South Africa 1-0 in World Cup's first knockout match on late goal
by Stephen Eustquio
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- Stephen Eustquio scored in the second minute of
second-half stoppage time, and Canada beat South Africa 1-0 on Sunday for its
first knockout match victory in a World Cup.
A tense match at SoFi Stadium appeared to be headed for extra time until
Eustquio --- who plays professionally for Los Angeles FC several miles away
--- put a stunning volley from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner
of Ronwen Williams' net.
Co-host Canada hung on with strong defensive play in the final minutes of the
tournament's first round of 32 match. Coach Jesse Marsch's team advanced to
face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday, July 4.
Marsch gathered his players in a huddle after the whistle and gave a spirited
speech, declaring, "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 played its first three matches at home in Toronto and Vancouver while
appearing in only its third World Cup, but was forced to become the first World
Cup host to play on the road when it lost 2-1 to Switzerland last Wednesday.
The Canadians were still the clear crowd favorite in the Los Angeles area
between their traveling fans and thousands of supportive locals, including
several in Eustquio's LAFC shirt who couldn't have imagined the day they were
about to enjoy.
"We never stopped believing," Eustquio said. "And I think the goal is really
something that we deserved."
Williams made five saves for South Africa, which played with remarkable heart
while hanging in until the final moments in search of another historic win for
the team known as Bafana Bafana. Canada had the best chances all day, but
underdog South Africa stayed firm defensively and created a handful of
excellent chances itself.
"We lost the game because there was a lack of power and speed in our team when
I compare that with our opponent," South Africa coach Hugo Broos said. "We had
a difficult game, certainly. But when we look back, we can be fairly satisfied
with what we did. We are disappointed, and we wanted to win, but we don't have
to be too much disappointed. What we did was good, and I'm very happy and proud
of my team."
Canada finally broke through when Alistair Johnston's long pass into the box
was cleared directly into the path of Eustquio, who chested it down, struck it
purely and started to celebrate almost immediately.
After finishing second in their respective groups, both South Africa and Canada
were playing for their nations' first knockout victories at a World Cup when
they opened knockout play with the only match of the day.
Canada got a boost in the 75th minute when star defender Alphonso Davies came
on for his first World Cup action. The playmaking Bayern Munich defender missed
group play after injuring his hamstring last month for the third time this
year, but finally returned in the same stadium where he tore a knee ligament in
March 2025 in CONCACAF Nations League play.
Davies immediately made the best pass of the day to set up Promise David for a
golden chance, but the forward hit it wide.
South Africa reached the knockout rounds for the first time with a 1-0 victory
over South Korea last Wednesday, arguably the highest moment in Bafana Bafana's
checkered international history.
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