Stephen Eustaquio hammered home a rasping strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 92nd minute to give Canada a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday, sending the co-hosts into the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.
Eustaquio received the ball on the edge of the South African penalty area and slotted it past diving goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in a thrilling finish to the first knockout round match at the World Cup.
South Africa, who had appeared content to play into extra time and a possible penalty shootout, made a couple of furious but failed attempts to equalize before the final whistle as the sun broke through the clouds at the Los Angeles Stadium.
Canada will next face either the Netherlands or Morocco on July 4 in Houston for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“We just kept believing, we kept pushing, and I think we couldn’t have imagined it any other way,” Eustaquio said.
“It was a great goal. When I shot it, I felt like everyone was shooting it with me. Everyone put a little bit of power on it and it went to the back of the net, so I’m very happy.”
Canada coach Jesse Marsch said his team had chances throughout the game but were not “lethal enough”.
“And then it falls to Steph and I just hope he puts it on the frame and gives it a shot and he buries it,” Marsch said.
“The hard work of these guys, the character — they’re Canadian heroes. That’s what I told them at the end. They’re now Canadian heroes. I’m so happy for them.”
Tense match in LA
Chances were few and far between in a cagey first half, with little separating the sides, both playing in the knockout rounds for the first time.
Canada’s best opener came just before the break when a corner sparked a scramble in the South Africa box, with Moise Bombito sending a header towards goal that was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba before Tajon Buchanan’s close-range effort hit Williams in the chest.
Moments later, Richie Laryea went down in the box, prompting Canadian appeals for a penalty, but the decision not to award a spot kick came after a VAR review, prompting loud boos from Canada’s red-clad army of supporters who dominated the stands.
Marsch continued to protest as the teams left the field at halftime, with Bombito appearing to urge him away from the referee.
Frustration grew for Canada in the second half as South Africa showed no great need to push forward while maintaining an impenetrable defence.
Canada had another chance just before the second-half hydration break when Tani Oluwaseyi’s shot hit the keeper and Jonathan David was unable to head the ricochet home thanks to a superb defensive effort by Mbekezeli Mbokazi to clear the ball.
But Eustaquio’s strike deep into stoppage time ended Canada’s agony and sent their supporters into raptures.
After advancing from the group stage for the first time in three World Cup appearances, the co-hosts were due to play their first game outside of Canada at this year’s World Cup on Sunday, with just three days’ rest after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their final group game on Wednesday.
‘We must be ready’
Canada, who have struggled with injuries, were boosted by Bombito’s return to the starting line-up and captain Alphonso Davies’ comeback from the bench, the Bayern Munich winger providing a second-half spark in his 2026 World Cup debut.
Marsch said he flew to Mexico later Sunday to watch the Netherlands take on Morocco at the Estadio Monterrey on Monday.
“We will be ready to throw everything we have at a giant,” he said.
South Africa can hold their heads high after reaching the knockout stage for the first time in four attempts, although they will rue a tame exit.
“Everyone is upset,” said Teboho Mokoena, who added that he had come agonizingly close to preventing the winner.
“If I had taken three more steps, I could have stopped that shot,” he said.
The match marked the World Cup final for 74-year-old South African coach Hugo Broosand, potentially bringing the curtain down on a career spanning more than five decades as both player and manager.
“I will see in the next days what I want to do in the future,” he said.
“It’s definitely my last World Cup.”
