Canada advance: 1-0 over South Africa, Stephen Eustaquio settled it in the 90th minute.
Canada booked a World Cup Round of 16 berth with a 1-0 win over South Africa at SoFi Stadium, sealed when Stephen Eustaquio scored in the 90th minute.
Jesse Marsch kept faith with the 4-4-2 that carried Canada through Group B and was rewarded. His side owned the penalty area with nine shots inside it, yet Ronwen Williams repelled everything through 89 minutes. Eustaquio, already on five key passes, finally beat him to reward a captain who dictated the tempo in Inglewood.
M. Ntseki’s 4-2-3-1 delivered 58 percent possession but could not sharpen Evidence Makgopa’s threat. The first significant adjustment—Thalente Mbatha for Relebohile Mofokeng in the 46th minute—tightened midfield spacing without punching holes in Canada’s defense. Only one shot forced Maxime Crépeau into action, leaving Williams to again stand out with five saves.
Canada chased the winner through Tani Oluwaseyi’s runs and Tajon Buchanan’s direct carrying until the planned changes began. Luc De Fougerolles and Niko Sigur arrived together in the 59th minute, and while Sigur was booked for a 67th-minute foul, the reshuffle held its shape. Marsch doubled down on width with Jacob Shaffelburg and Promise David in the 70th minute before unleashing Alphonso Davies at 75 to stretch a back line that had already seen Nathan-Dylan Saliba cautioned on 54.
Canada’s pressure told in the numbers—1.32 expected goals to South Africa’s 0.13 and four corners to one—yet patience was still required. The payoff is historic: a first World Cup Round of 16 for the Canadians under Marsch, built on the composure of their midfield leader and a resilient back line that absorbed late pressure.
Key numbers
- Shots on target: South Africa 1, Canada 7
- Possession: South Africa 58 percent, Canada 42 percent
- Expected goals: South Africa 0.13, Canada 1.32
- Saves: Ronwen Williams 5, Maxime Crépeau 1
- Yellow cards: Nathan-Dylan Saliba 54th minute, Niko Sigur 67th minute
Canada now wait to learn their Round of 16 opponent later this week, eyeing bracket updates that include ties such as Brazil vs Japan and Germany vs Paraguay. South Africa head home knowing a deeper run under Ntseki will require sharper conviction in the box when this tournament returns.
