Canada first into last 16 as Stephen Eustáquio scores in stoppage time against South Africa

Jesse Marsch clenched some fists and, for a divided second, seemed to defy nan enticement to complaint connected to nan transportation to observe nan extremity that sent Canada into nan past 16 of nan World Cup. But past each hellhole collapsed loose, Marsch, immoderate of his Canada unit and a raft of unused substitutes emptied connected to nan turf.

Sixty-four seconds into astatine slightest 5 minutes of second-half stoppage time, Stephen Eustáquio chested a South Africa clearance and struck a saccharine right-foot changeable pinch his laces, nan shot thudding into nan bottommost area of nan goal. It was undoubtedly deserved but for truthful agelong it was intolerable to shingle nan consciousness that nan crippled was heading for other time, South Africa seemingly contented to play nan agelong game, showing small ambition connected nan ball. Their goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, was often booed for retaining possession.

For some teams, nan very principle of being here, successful nan knockout stages, was a groundbreaking infinitesimal worthy celebrating. As Hugo Broos, nan South Africa caput coach, outlined, getting to this constituent meant nan tourney had been a success. “But erstwhile you are there, you want more,” said nan 74-year-old, nan oldest head near successful nan competition, speaking connected behalf of each of nan Bafana Bafana supporters, astir of whom arrived again much successful dream than expectation. “Everybody said Bafana Bafana was a joke, cipher believed successful it,” he said this week erstwhile reflecting connected stepping into nan occupation successful 2021.

Canada were signposted arsenic favourites for nan crippled contempt leaving down location comforts for nan first time, nonaccomplishment to return apical spot successful Group B meaning they surrendered location advantage to Switzerland. As co-hosts, nan value of nan juncture was not mislaid connected Canada. “Playing knockout football, it’s triumph aliases you spell home,” said Alphonso Davies, nan skipper who again began connected nan chair contempt Jesse Marsch saying he was “more than ready” to perform. Marsch, calved successful Wisconsin, high-fived each of his backroom unit aft singing each connection of O Canada, nan nationalist anthem.

It had been a slow-burn title until nan 44th minute, erstwhile nan returning Moise Bombito saw a header cleared disconnected nan statement by Aubrey Modiba. Chaos ensued successful nan South Africa punishment box, Tani Oluwaseyi and Alistair Johnston getting successful each other’s measurement arsenic they tried to caput nan shot backmost towards extremity and Derek Cornelius recorded a plaything and a miss earlier Williams repelled Tajon Buchanan’s strike. It was Cornelius who wasted Canada’s different large opening midway done nan first half, failing to make immoderate powerfulness connected a header aft gathering Stephen Eustáquio’s free-kick erstwhile unmarked connected nan separator of nan six-yard box.

Until Bombito’s header, nan show of nan AFC Richmond striker Dani Rojas, of Ted Lasso fame, appearing connected nan 1,000-tonne wraparound screen, a benignant of elephantine chandelier, drew nan loudest cheers. Canada undoubtedly stitched together nan amended of nan moves. Jonathan David was excessively lax aft his onslaught partner Oluwaseyi located him wrong nan container and Sphephelo Sithole was first connected nan segment to sniff nan danger. The different evident talking constituent was nan non-award of a punishment connected nan verge of first-half added time. The Portuguese referee, João Pinheiro, was nan calmest man successful nan stadium aft noting Khuliso Mudau – conscionable astir – sewage studs connected nan shot aft Richie Laryea fell successful nan box. At first glimpse it seemed a definite penalty, but replays suggested nan charismatic was correct. Marsch, however, fumed astatine nan determination and only Bombito, evidently seeing small constituent successful protests, prevented him from making a beeline for Pinheiro aft nan half-time whistle sounded.

South Africa improved successful nan 2nd half aft an highly constricted showing successful nan first. They struggled to fuss Canada’s backline, Teboho Mokoena’s first-time changeable 5 minutes into this contest, from pushing 30 yards, represented their only changeable connected target.

Oswin Appollis trim wrong aft nan hr but his changeable was wayward, quickly fading from view. Maxime Crépeau was untroubled but up nan different extremity his other number Williams was called into action midway done nan 2nd half. Williams sewage his near mitt to Oluwaseyi’s onslaught aft nan Villarreal striker bore down connected goal. But nan momentum connected nan shot appeared to coming David pinch an opportune infinitesimal a fewer yards retired connected nan rebound, only for Mbekezeli Mbokazi to hook clear. Thalente Mbatha rushed towards nan goal-line to congratulate nan 20-year-old Mbokazi, who plays for Chicago Fire, connected denying a near-certain goal.

Davies said nan joyous scenes successful Toronto, wherever Canada played their opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina brought tears to his eyes, but it was Eustáquio, who has deputised arsenic Canada’s skipper successful his absence, who brought nan location down here. Just arsenic other clip and perchance penalties beckoned, he took purpose to tee up a last-16 necktie against either Netherlands aliases Morocco successful Houston connected Friday.