World Cup Day 8: Co-hosts win, Canada victory marred | OneFootball

Thursday’s World Cup action saw a massive, if marred, win for co-hosts Canada, while Mexico are heading into the knockouts.

We’ve recapped all the happenings from matchday eight, including what you missed overnight and the biggest stories from the tournament.

South Africa rescue deserved draw with Czechia

South Africa gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the knockout rounds after rescuing a late draw with Czechia. Both teams had lost their opening fixture and knew another defeat would all but end hopes of progress.

Czechia took the lead inside six minutes through Michal Sadielek, but South Africa refused to give in. Bafana Bafana dominated the ball (62%) and created the better opportunities, before being awarded a late penalty. Teboho Mokoena kept his cool to emphatically dispatch the spot kick and leave both sides in with a chance of progress.

Bonkers final 15 minutes sees Swiss beat Bosnia

Switzerland looked set for a second straight snoozefest at this summers World Cup, before their battle with Bosnia burst into life late on.

The game was goalless with just 16 minutes to go, but ended with Switzerland running out 4-1 winners against their 10-man opposition. The impressive Johan Manzambi brilliantly volleyed the Swiss in front, before Bosnia’s afternoon went from bad to worse, as Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for a professional foul.

Four minutes later, Ruben Vargas doubled Switzerland’s lead, and Manzambi side-footed home a second moments later. There was still time for Ermin Mahmic to blast Bosnia a consolation, only for Switzerland to score again through Granit Xhaka’s penalty.

Those who switched off will be feeling some regret.

Korean calamity books Mexico’s passage to knockouts

Mexico are the first team to book their place in the knockout rounds and look almost certain to do so as group winners. Back-to-back victories have sent El Tri into the Round of 32, after a hard-fought win over South Korea. This was not a game for the purists as the two teams cancelled each other out, but Mexico found a winner through an unlikely source.

Kim Seung-gyu’s goalkeeping gaffe giftwrapped the decisive goal for Luis Romo, just the 31-year-old’s fifth goal for his country.

Super six-goal Canada win marred by Kone injury

Canada secured their first-ever World Cup win in style, but a 6-0 success against Qatar was overshadowed by a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.

Kone suffered a fractured fibula and tibula with Canada leading by three goals, an injury that left head coach Jesse Marsch in tears.

Kone’s injury aside, this was as good as it could get for the co-hosts. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick to move joint-top of the Golden Boot race, as the Canadians punished their nine-man opponents.

Qatar were then shown the first of their two red cards when Homam El Amin was sent off for a professional foul, before Omer Madibo was dismissed for the incident that saw Kone injury. Both challenged for the ball, with Madibo visibly upset at the outcome.

Kone’s World Cup is over, but Canada’s looks likely to head into the knockout rounds.

Read – Four things we learned from England 4-2 Croatia

See more – England player ratings vs Croatia: Kane and Bellingham star in World Cup opener

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