Canada wins historic first World Cup knockout match, beating South Africa with a late goal

Co-host Canada has made history by winning the first-ever knockout stage match in the World Cup, securing a spot in the next round. Stephen Eustáquio scored the decisive goal in the second minute of stoppage time at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, near Los Angeles, as the match seemed headed for extra time.

The Canadian team, managed by Jesse Marsch, will now advance to the round of 16. They are scheduled to play either the Netherlands or Morocco on Saturday in Houston. The victory marks a significant achievement for Canadian soccer on the world stage.

Throughout much of the first half, the game was characterized by a lack of significant action and disjointed play. Canada appeared to be the stronger team, creating several dangerous opportunities from set pieces. South Africa's defense, including goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, showed notable uncertainty, particularly with aerial balls.

Despite early chances for Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius, who both missed opportunities from close range, the first half ended goalless. The second half saw limited action until the 62nd minute when Oswin Appollis of South Africa had their first real shot on goal, which went wide. The introduction of star player Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich in the 74th minute injected energy into Canada's offense, leading to further chances before Eustáquio's late winner.