INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Right after Canada finished its first knockout match victory in a , coach Jesse Marsch huddled his players on the grass of a stadium still in pandemonium and spoke from his heart 鈥� shouted, actually.
鈥淵ou guys are Canadian heroes today!” Marsch declared. “Canadian heroes for the future children of this country who play this sport. The sport has a big future because of you guys. You should be so proud of who you are. You should be so proud of this game. You never lost belief. You went after it, point after point, moment after moment. You are Canadian heroes!鈥�
Stephen Eust谩quio’s dramatic late goal had inspired Marsch to Ted Lasso levels of earnestness, and he didn’t care who knew it.
Soccer has never been the main event on Canada’s busy sports calendar, and Les Rouges are playing in only their third World Cup this summer. But Marsch realized this landmark 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday is the type of achievement that can seize an entire nation’s attention for a generation.
鈥淲e could have made life a little easier on ourselves if we would have made a play earlier when we had some big chances,鈥� Marsch said. 鈥淏ut obviously the timing of the goal means that the win is incredibly dramatic, and I think the effect that it will have in Canada, and the inspiring of people, will be immense.鈥�
After 90-plus minutes of frustration and failure to break down cagey South Africa at SoFi Stadium, Canada made history in an instant when Alistair Johnston鈥檚 long pass into the box was cleared directly into the path of Eust谩quio.
The midfielder who plays professionally at nearby Los Angeles FC coolly chested it down and blasted it off the bounce into the bottom corner of Ronwen Williams’ net before sprinting away to celebrate with Canada’s bench in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
鈥淲e worked for it,” Eust谩quio said. 鈥淲e have a special group. We feel like we are brothers. When we fight for each other, when we play for each other, special things like this can happen. I am over the moon, but at the same time I don鈥檛 want to say that the job is finished.鈥�
Canada, which sits 30th in the most recent FIFA world rankings, advanced to face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday.
After playing its first three group matches in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada missed the chance to also make this bit of history at home when it last Wednesday and got sent on the road for the knockout rounds. But Marsch’s plucky team responded by winning this tournament’s first round of 32 match and reaching the round of 16 for the first time in its three trips to the World Cup.
The Canadians were still the clear crowd favorite in the Los Angeles area between their traveling fans and thousands of supportive locals, including several in Eust谩quio鈥檚 LAFC shirt who couldn’t have imagined the day they were about to enjoy.
鈥淲e never stopped believing,” Eust谩quio said. “And I think the goal is really something that we deserved.鈥�
After finishing second in their respective groups, both South Africa and Canada were playing for their nations鈥� first knockout victories at a World Cup when they opened knockout play with the only match of the day.
Canada got a boost in the 75th minute when star defender Alphonso Davies came on for his first World Cup action. The playmaking Bayern Munich defender after injuring his hamstring last month for the third time this year, but finally returned in the same stadium where he tore a knee ligament in March 2025 in CONCACAF Nations League play.
Davies immediately made the best pass of the day to set up Promise David for a golden chance, but the forward hit it wide. The game then bogged down again 鈥� but Eust谩quio made sure Canada avoided extra time.
鈥淪teph is one of the people in the team that I think is the most reliable and understands what we鈥檙e trying to achieve as a group, and understands how to manage moments in games, and to be a leader, a true leader,鈥� Marsch said. 鈥淚t was good to see him, in that moment, just being in the moment and thinking about the best way to strike the ball in the way to give it the best chance to go in. Really composed and really well-executed.鈥�
Williams made five saves for , which played with remarkable heart while hanging in until the final moments in search of another historic win for the team known as Bafana Bafana. South Africa stayed firm defensively and created a handful of tantalizing chances despite getting only one shot on goal to close a tournament in which it scored two goals in four matches.
鈥淲e lost the game because there was a lack of power and speed in our team when I compare that with our opponent,鈥� South Africa coach Hugo Broos said. 鈥淲e had a difficult game, certainly. But when we look back, we can be fairly satisfied with what we did.鈥�
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