Stephen Eustaquio drilled home a stoppage-time winner on 29 June at Los Angeles to give Canada a historic victory over South Africa, securing the co-hosts' first-ever knockout-stage win at the FIFA World Cup. The goal — Eustaquio's first for Canada since late 2023 — ended a tense round-of-16 contest that had looked destined for extra time.

How the Winning Moment Unfolded

South Africa had set up deep and compact, frustrating Canada's attacking play for much of the second half. Canada created the clearer opportunities throughout but could not convert until Eustaquio stepped forward in stoppage time to hammer the ball into the net. It was his fourth goal on American soil, following three strikes at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and arguably the most significant of his international career.

'When I shot, I felt that everybody shot with me. Everybody put a little bit of power on it and it went into the back of the net,' Eustaquio said after the final whistle.

What Eustaquio Said About the Goal

The Porto midfielder admitted he had no idea how deep into stoppage time he was when he struck. 'It's a tough stadium, I don't think we can see the [time] of the game,' he said. 'I never saw it. I was looking during the hydration breaks to figure out how much time was left, but when I scored, I knew it was close to the end.'

He also credited collective belief as the driving force. 'We just kept believing, we kept pushing, and I [don't] think we could've imagined it any other way,' he added. 'We worked a lot to get this victory. We really wanted to give this win to all the Canadians.'

Historic Significance for Canadian Football

Neither Canada nor South Africa had previously advanced beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup. Canada's progression is especially notable given their status as co-hosts — a tournament they qualified for automatically — making the knockout run a genuine measure of the programme's growth under head coach Jesse Marsch.

Eustaquio pointed to the team's mentality emerging from the group stage as the foundation. 'It started when we came out of the group stage,' he said. 'I think when it comes to a knockout of the World Cup, the belief brings a big part to it.'

What Comes Next for Canada

Jesse Marsch's side will next face the winners of the Netherlands vs Morocco last-16 tie, with the match scheduled at Houston Stadium. Eustaquio was bullish about Canada's chances against either opponent. 'Who knows, on a good day that we can make things happen. We have a special group, we feel like we are brothers. When we fight for each other, special things can happen. I'm over the moon — but the job's not finished,' he said.