Stephen Eustaquio's daughter was part of the post-match spotlight after Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32 on Sunday. His 92nd-minute finish sent Canada into the Round of 16 for its first-ever knockout-stage victory at a World Cup.
Eustáquio Delivers in the 92nd Minute
The decisive play came after a South African defender headed a cross into the box, leaving the ball for Eustáquio to settle onto his right foot. He drove it into the lower-left corner past Ronwen Williams, turning a tight match into a breakthrough result for Canada.
Canada needed the winner because the game had stayed level deep into stoppage time despite its territorial edge. The team finished with seven shots on goal to South Africa's one and held a 1.32-0.13 advantage in expected goals, but the score still sat at 0-0 until the final moments.
Canada's Knockout Breakthrough
The result carries extra weight because Canada is one of three co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup and had played all three of its group matches on home soil before losing to Switzerland in its finale and finishing second in Group B. Sunday was the first time that team turned a knockout match into a win at the World Cup.
That makes the next step straightforward for the players and the staff: Canada moves on to face the winner of Netherlands vs. Morocco in Houston on July 4. The path is shorter now, and the margin for error is gone, but the late goal means Canada gets another match with the bracket still open.
Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood
The match was played at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., where Canada had to solve a game that refused to open until the 92nd minute. For Eustáquio, the finish was the kind of single moment that carries the full weight of a tournament turn.
