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Monday 29 Jun 2026
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Canada secure historic World Cup knockout victory over South Africa. (Photo/Reuters)
Canada have won a historic 1-0 victory over South Africa 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 through a stoppage-time winner from Stephen Eustaquio.
With both sides making their first-ever 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 4 July, as South Africa's World Cup adventure comes to an end.
Canada began on the front foot, racking up chances against South Africa's low block.
South Africa threatened sporadically on the counter.
Stoppage-time breakthrough
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.
In the 75th minute, the team's star Alphonso Davies finally appeared, to a huge roar, and made an immediate impact.
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 chested the ball down and slammed it first-time into the bottom-left corner.
Canada's bench streamed onto the pitch as the stadium erupted, celebrating a historic victory.
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Source: TRT
