INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stephen Eustáquio scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Canada beat South Africa 1-0 on Sunday for its first knockout match victory in a World Cup and a first-ever appearance in the round of 16.
A tense match at SoFi Stadium appeared to be headed for extra time until Eustáquio, who plays professionally for LAFC several miles away, put a stunning volley from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner of Ronwen Williams’ net.
Co-host Canada hung on with strong defensive play in the final minutes and advanced to face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday, July 4.
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Canada played its first three matches at home in Toronto and Vancouver, but was forced to become the first World Cup host to play on the road when it lost 2-1 to Switzerland last Wednesday.
