Captain Stephen Eustaquio scored a dramatic injury-time winner as co-hosts Canada beat South Africa 1-0 on Sunday to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, as the knockout stages began at the tournament in North America.
With both sides making their first-ever appearance beyond the group stage of a World Cup, a tense last-32 tie appeared to be heading for extra time, before Eustaquio broke South African hearts with a clinical hit from just outside the area in the 92nd minute at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Porto midfielder – on loan at Los Angeles FC – controlled the ball on his chest and then unleashed a shot that beat South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and found the bottom corner.
That settled a contest of few clear chances, and Canada’s bench streamed onto the pitch as the stadium erupted, celebrating a historic victory.
“We are excited that we’re still playing, relieved that we managed to get over the line. It was a difficult match, we knew it was going to be,” said Canada’s Alistair Johnston.
“It’s still a pinch-me moment, honestly, we just won a knockout-round match at a World Cup.”
Canada were appearing in the knockout stages for the very first time, but their joy at achieving that feat was tempered by the fact they finished second in their group behind Switzerland.
That meant they had to head to the United States for this match rather than stay in Vancouver, and they will now travel to Houston for a last-16 tie on Saturday against either the Netherlands or Morocco, who meet on Monday.
Brazil to face Japan
Whoever their opponents, the Canadians will be the underdogs, but they were boosted here by the appearance as a late substitute of Alphonso Davies. It was a first appearance at the tournament for the Bayern Munich wing-back, and indeed his first international appearance in over a year after injury.
As Canada march on, South Africa go home, their tournament over but still a qualified success after they reached the knockout stages for the first time.
They were one of nine African nations to make it to this round, a record-breaking performance by the continent in the first 48-team World Cup.
The sprawling tournament has now moved on to the knockout rounds after the group stage wrapped up on Saturday, and the last-32 action will continue Monday with three games, including a potential cracker between Brazil and dangerous outsiders Japan.
Brazil, the record five-time champions, are desperate to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and Carlo Ancelotti’s side eased through to this stage on top of their group, led by Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior and his four goals.
Considered dark horses to go far, Japan finished runners-up behind the Netherlands in their group with one win and two draws.
“The team is united and that feeling is getting even stronger now,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, whose side beat Brazil 3-2 at home in a friendly in October.
“We have a chance and it will be tough… we will be at full force,” he added.
South Korea coach quits
Germany have made the knockout rounds for the first time since they last won the World Cup in 2014, and they will be expected to get the better of Paraguay in Boston in Monday’s second game.
The Netherlands and Morocco then meet in Monterrey, Mexico, for the right to take on Canada in the last 16.
Elsewhere on Sunday, South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigned, a day after his side’s group-stage exit and following condemnation from the country’s president.
The 57-year-old former captain, in his second stint as coach, oversaw an early World Cup departure for the second time to go with the failure in 2014.
South Korea were expected to get out of a Group A that included co-hosts Mexico plus South Africa and the Czech Republic.
But they lost 1-0 to South Africa and Mexico, and finished on three points, their only success a 2-1 win over the Czechs.
Meanwhile, the Iran squad confirmed they would leave their base in the Mexican city of Tijuana on Monday after their elimination was confirmed at the end of the group stage, as they missed out on a place among the best third-placed sides.
