Eustáquio’s injury-time strike sends Canada through

Stephen Eustáquio scored deep into injury time as Canada beat South Africa 1-0 at SoFi Stadium to reach the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in knockout play. Canada advances to face the Netherlands or Morocco on July 4 in Houston.

Canada’s Round of 32 dream didn’t arrive early. It arrived like a thunderclap in the final moments—Stephen Eustáquio cracking South Africa’s stubborn resistance with a goal in deep injury time as the clock threatened extra time.

At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Canada finally broke through when Eustáquio collected a cleared ball in the box, chested it down, and lashed a low curler from 20 yards into the lower left corner for a 1-0 victory. It was Canada’s first ever win in a World Cup knockout game.

The result sends Canada to the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston, where it will play the winner of Monday’s match between the Netherlands and Morocco.

In the mixed zone after the match, defender Alistair Johnston put it into words that felt bigger than the scoreboard. “It’s one of those moments that you’ll never forget where you were… for Canadian sports history. it’s going to be a moment where you’re going to kind of know where you were when that moment happened. ” he said.

“We know that this is not only writing history in Canadian soccer, but in Canadian sport, and that’s something that’s really magical,” Johnston added.

For 90 minutes, it was a test of patience as much as it was a match. Canada started aggressively, pressing with an ultra-aggressive style to push South Africa backward. But South Africa handled the pressure and worked around Canada’s midfield, slipping into dangerous scoring positions.

Relebohile Mofokeng got in behind and fired an early shot that forced a save from goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. Canada later became more selective with its pressing and created better scoring chances. yet no breakthrough came—South Africa’s last-ditch defending stayed strong. and Canada’s attackers struggled to finish.

South Africa controlled possession at the start of the second half, with Canada sitting off and only choosing specific moments to press. Coach Marsch made changes in the 59th minute, bringing on midfielder Niko Sigur and centre back de Luc Fougerolles for Nathan Saliba and Moïse Bombito.

Sigur almost made an instant impact, driving forward through the middle and feeding Tani Oluwaseyi with a probing through ball. Oluwaseyi took a touch and saw his shot from inside the box saved by Ronwen Williams. Mbekezeli Mbokazi cleared it strongly before David could poke at the rebound.

As the game stretched into the later stages. it began to look like the day might belong to South Africa’s bend-but-don’t-break approach. Even with top scorer Jonathan David appearing to run low on energy for the final 15 minutes. South Africa’s back line held firm and frustrated Canada at every turn—so much so that it seemed prepared to absorb another 30 minutes and test its luck in a penalty shootout.

Then, with extra time looming, Canada kept believing and the moment arrived.

Substitute Jacob Shaffelburg delivered a cross into the box in injury time, it was cleared by a South African defender, and the ball dropped at Eustáquio’s feet. He didn’t let the momentum carry him—he controlled it with his chest and fired a low shot from 20 yards into the lower left corner.

Marsch later framed it as more than just drama on a late night. “I think the performance was really strong and disciplined. We didn’t really give much away, and even when their goalkeeper was slowing things down, we didn’t lose our patience. … We could have made life a little easier on ourselves if we would have made a play earlier when we had some big chances. but obviously the timing of the goal means that the win is incredibly dramatic. ” he said.

“And I think the effect that it will have in Canada and the inspiring of people will be immense. So, I’m really proud of our team.”

Eustáquio’s winner also carried its own quiet shock value. He isn’t a typical goal-scoring midfielder. Coming into Sunday’s match. he had four goals in 59 appearances for Canada and hadn’t scored for his country since 2023. Yet he produced the kind of strike that tends to define careers—and tournaments.

Marsch had injected urgency in the second half with a series of substitutions, including bringing on speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg. Shaffelburg’s probing work down the right flank caused problems for South Africa’s back line. and his cross in injury time ultimately became the platform for the finish.

Eustáquio’s composure mattered because there had been chances earlier—Derek Cornelius, Liam Millar, Moïse Bombito, and Tajon Buchanan all had good looks on goal in the first half but squandered their opportunities.

After scoring. Eustáquio said: “I feel very happy that I scored the goal that was able to help the team. but that shot. I felt that everybody in the team shot that ball with me. We are very good. We believed a lot in this game. We knew that if we were our best, we could win, and we made history at the same time.”.

For Canada’s attack, the timing of this win also intersected with the return of Alphonso Davies—another boost that arrived after uncertainty had hung over the match.

Davies had been ruled out for Canada’s opening contest at this World Cup due to a long-term hamstring injury. He was an unused substitute in the next two games. His absence had been notable not only because of who he is on the left. but because of the road he’d traveled since last season: he hadn’t played for Canada since March 2025 after tearing an ACL in the Concacaf Nations League finals. He missed a portion of the recent Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich and still hadn’t fully returned. with his last appearance coming after an injury setback in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals versus Paris Saint-Germain on May 6.

With so much time on the sidelines, there was real debate around how much influence he could have if Marsch chose to bring him on.

In the 75th minute, Marsch finally brought Davies off the bench. He didn’t score, but his cameo changed the feel of Canada’s attacking play.

Within seconds of stepping onto the pitch. Davies nearly set up an assist with one of his first touches. teeing up fellow substitute Promise David. whose shot from 20 yards flew just wide of the post. Moments later. Davies found David inside the box with a clever pass. and the Juventus forward’s angled shot was parried by South Africa’s goalkeeper.

Up to that point, many of Canada’s attacks had come through the middle and down the right wing. Suddenly, their threat sharpened along the left flank because of Davies, and South Africa had to devote more attention to stopping him.

That shift created space for teammates—space that Canada eventually turned into the winner.

Eustáquio summed up what Davies meant to the team after the match. “I think when Alphonso comes in, it’s a big boost for the team. Obviously, he’s one of the best left backs in the world; the best player we have on our team,” he said.

By the time the final whistle arrived, it wasn’t just a result. It was proof that when the match refused to open up, Canada had the patience to stay dangerous and the belief to finish the job when it finally mattered.

Canada South Africa FIFA World Cup Round of 32 Stephen Eustáquio SoFi Stadium Alphonso Davies Marsch Jacob Shaffelburg Johnston