Camille Naredo

Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026. Frederic J. Brown, AFP

Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.  (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

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2026 World Cup

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782707945531AFP__20260628__B8LH2KH__v2__MidRes__TopshotFblWc2026Match73RsaCan.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Canada&#x27;s midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team&#x27;s first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026. Frederic J. Brown, AFP" width="960"/>Canada&#x27;s midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team&#x27;s first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026. Frederic J. Brown, AFP</div>LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Eustaquio&#x27;s stoppage-time winner fired Canada to a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday in the first match of the World Cup knockout rounds, as the co-hosts advance to the last 16 for the first time in their history.With both sides making their inaugural appearance in the knockout phase, the game appeared to be heading for extra time, before Eustaquio broke South African hearts with a clinical hit from just outside the area.Canada -- playing in Los Angeles despite being co-hosts, after failing to win their group -- will now face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston in the last 16 on July 4, as South Africa&#x27;s World Cup adventure comes to an end.&quot;We felt like we could wear them down over time, and it took 92 minutes, but we got there,&quot; said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/28/england-moving-on-at-world-cup-but-questions-linger-1720">READ: England moving on at World Cup but questions linger</a></div>The manager said his team could have &quot;made life a little easier on ourselves&quot; by converting multiple good chances earlier in the game.&quot;But obviously the timing of the goal means that the win is incredibly dramatic, and I think the effect that it will have in Canada and the inspiring of people will be immense,&quot; he added.Before the game, Marsch had talked up the &quot;X-factor&quot; of Canada&#x27;s star Alphonso Davies, available again after a hamstring injury.But the Bayern Munich wing-back, who was yet to appear at this World Cup, remained glaringly absent from the starting line-up.Still, Canada began on the front foot, racking up chances against South Africa&#x27;s low block.In the 22nd minute, a pinpoint Eustaquio free-kick found Derek Cornelius wide open on the six-yard line. The Canada center-back utterly mistimed his headed effort.South Africa threatened sporadically on the counter. But in a frenetic period just before half-time Canada came agonizingly close.From a corner, Moise Bombito&#x27;s header was cleared off the line, before Tajon Buchanan&#x27;s follow-up shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.Moments later Khuliso Mudau crashed into the dangerous Richie Laryea, but his penalty appeals were waved away.That enraged a heavily Canadian crowd, and the jeers grew louder after half-time as South Africa were content to exchange deep passes under little pressure while the clock ticked down.Just past the hour mark, Canada came close again.Substitute Niko Sigur slid a through ball to Tani Oluwaseyi whose shot was well-saved by the goalkeeper and looped up toward Jonathan David -- but defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi just got there first and cleared brilliantly.<div> </div><div>- Davies returns -</div><div><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBZNLWcrBKk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>In the 75th minute Davies finally appeared, to a huge roar, and made an immediate impact.From the left wing, Davies found Jonathan David who laid the ball to fellow striker -- and no relation -- Promise David, but his shot went wide.Moments later Davies found Jonathan David again. This time he shot from a tight angle, but was denied by Williams.In the second minute of stoppage time, Canada finally broke through, from the other flank.Jacob Shaffelburg raced down the right wing and pinged in a cross which was headed clear to Eustaquio.The Porto midfielder -- on loan at Los Angeles FC -- chested the ball down and slammed it first-time into the bottom-left corner.Canada&#x27;s bench streamed onto the pitch as the stadium erupted, celebrating a historic victory.&quot;It&#x27;s a shame we couldn&#x27;t do it in Vancouver, in front of our fans,&quot; said Marsch.&quot;But nonetheless, I think you saw the character of the team, the quality of the team, the mentality of the team, the togetherness of the team.&quot;South Africa coach Hugo Broos said his defeated side &quot;can be fairly satisfied with what we did&quot; by progressing from the group stage for the first time.&quot;Okay, we are disappointed, we wanted to win, but it would have really been a little miracle if we should have been in the third round,&quot; he said.

Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time winner fired Canada to a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday in the first match of the World Cup knockout rounds, as the co-hosts advance to the last 16 for the first time in their history.

Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time winner fired Canada to a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday in the first match of the World Cup knockout rounds, as the co-hosts advance to the last 16 for the first time in their history.

Canada reach World Cup last 16 as late strike sinks South Africa

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Canada reach World Cup last 16 as late strike sinks South Africa

Andrew Marszal,

Agence France-Presse

Published June 29, 2026 01:05 PM PHT

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Updated June 29, 2026 01:19 PM PHT

Read More:

football

FIFA World Cup

Canada

South Africa

Stephen Eustaquio

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