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Canada entered Sunday’s Round of 32 match as a significant favorite to advance to the Round of 16 with a win over South Africa. But it wasn’t as easy for the Canadians as the odds might have indicated.
The two teams entered second-half stoppage time locked in a 0-0 draw. But Canada managed to score the winner in the 92nd minute. A cross into the box by the Canadians landed directly on the head of a South African defender, but the header bounced right to the chest of Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio.
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Eustáquio settled the ball onto his right foot and then made no mistake, ripping a shot into the lower-left corner of the net, past South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Canada generated the better chances throughout, putting seven shots on goal to South Africa’s one and holding a 1.32-0.13 edge in expected goals, but the Canadians couldn’t break through until Eustáquio’s late winner.
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The goal propelled Canada to its first-ever knockout-match victory at a World Cup.
Canada is serving as one of three co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, along with the United States and Mexico. The Canadians played all three of their group matches on home soil, but defeated South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
Canada was forced to play away from home after losing to Switzerland in its group-stage finale, which left it second in Group B.
Canada will next face the winner of Netherlands vs. Morocco in Houston on July 4.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina, the third-place team from Group B, faces the United States on Wednesday, July 1, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Unlike Canada, the United States won its group.
Team USA is a heavy favorite to defeat Bosnia (-700 at DraftKings) and advance to the Round of 16. Should the United States take care of business, it would face the winner of Belgium vs. Senegal on July 6.
Canada survived its scare. Now, the United States gets its chance to join its fellow North American co-host in the Round of 16.
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