When Canada’s concluding moment does eventually arrive this summer, Stephen Eustaquio would be forgiven for not wanting to leave the bright sunshine of California. The Canadian midfielder, contracted to Porto, joined Los Angeles FC in February on a four-month loan deal, desperately hunting minutes on the pitch ahead of the World Cup. Now, the 29-year-old is the match-winner in his new home away from home, sending his country through to the last-16 with a dramatic stoppage-time strike.
It should be noted: this was not a classic, thrilling start to the knockout phase. A match between two group-stage runner-ups – in groups naturally weaker due to host nation participation – failed to fire for the vast majority, under this 70,000-seater greenhouse. To a wider point, what does that say for the World Cup’s knockout expansion? Perhaps it’s too early to judge, but this was certainly two teams who were afraid to lose the contest, rather than setting out to win. Food for thought, maybe, for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, an unsurprising spectator in the VIP area.
Yet the long-awaited introduction of Canada captain Alphonso Davies – a world-class performer on his day – made the difference here with 15 minutes to go. Suddenly, Jesse March’s side had more verve, more speed, more desire to be on the front foot. The gamble, given Davies’ precarious hamsting, paid off.
But it was Eustaquio, a tireless presence in the centre of the park and even more so after the ghastly broken leg suffered by teammate Ismael Kone 10 days ago, who found his range at the perfect time. Controlling deftly on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder – from Ontario, the son of two Portuguese parents – struck low and hard with his right foot into the bottom corner. Jubilation for those in black, Canada’s away strip, and those patches of red in the stands.
Afterwards, exuberant head coach Marsch – forever a performer, whether it’s for the cameras or otherwise – gathered his players in a small circle. A Canadian flag was unfurled as the co-hosts celebrated their stay at this World Cup, extending for another week. Next, it will be the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday; a decidedly tougher task awaits them.
Unlike the certainty of the group-stage clashes, there was a peculiar sense of occasion on the walk into Inglewood this cloudy Sunday morning; for it was not Canadian or South African shirts dominating the precincts but, rather, Mexican and South Korean shirts. Mexico, of course, topped their group and will stay at their beloved Azteca Stadium. Korea, whose captain Son Heung-Min now plies his trade in Los Angeles, missed out on the knockouts after their shock loss to South Africa. Son’s club teammate, Eustaquio, would prove to be the hero.
Regardless of the multiculturalism watching on, they were not treated to a cracker from here. In fact, the most notable resonance throughout the 90 minutes was loud jeering when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams simply held onto the ball for multiple seconds, with South Africa showing no inclination to speed up play and Canada, the pre-match favourites, stubbornly refusing to break from their fixed shape.
The Canadians – the first co-host ever to play a World Cup match outside their own country – looked to be missing their home comforts for much of this tepid, uninspiring contest. Marsch’s side went closest in the first-half after a chaotic goalmouth scramble: South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba cleared off the line from Moise Bombito’s goalbound header before Williams saved well from Tajon Buchanan’s follow-up.
The half ended with Marsch, lamentably, confronting Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro for failing to give a penalty after Richie Laryea went down in the box. Laryea was looking for it; the right call was made.
Regrettably, the second-half did not see a whole lot of improvement. On paper, this tie was the lowest quality and, truthfully, neither side did much to dispel that notion. Tani Oluwaseyi stormed into the box for Canada and was denied by Williams while, at the other end, South Africa’s Oswin Appollis had a long-range effort smartly saved. On the hour mark, a Mexican wave started in the stands – that’s when you really know proceedings on the pitch are poor.
But this game needed Davies. Mere minutes after entering the 2026 World Cup fray for the first time, he’d carved out two opportunities with direct passes forward: first for Promise David, then for Jonathan David. Nonetheless, extra time did look a near-inevitability.
That was until minute 91. Eustaquio was decisive where others were wasteful. Back to basics, head over the ball, a low accurate strike into the corner with his right foot. He turned away and sprinted towards his ecstatic teammates who, by the time he reached them, had spilt over onto the pitch. Canada’s gamble paid off; Bafana Bafana can have no complaints. It was a dramatic finale to a laclustre game of football.
