Eustaquio’s 92-minute winner beats South Africa as Canada reach last 16 | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Canada captain Stephen Eustaquio made himself their hero firing home a 92nd-minute winner to beat South Africa 1-0 and progress to the last 16 in the World Cup’ inaugural round of 32 match.

Canada enjoyed the better chances throughout the contest but Rowen Williams was the latest goalkeeper to turn in a brilliant performance at the tournament keeping out a goalmouth scramble and Tami Oluwayesi one-on-one either side of the break.

Needing a moment of quality, the co-hosts’ captain struck right at the last by chesting down a header away and arrowing into the bottom left corner to continue Canada’s dream journey through the tournament under Jesse Marsch.

South Africa’s only real sight of goal prior to the first hydration break came as Toheba Mokoena’s effort from distance was comfortably parried by Maxime Crépeau, and it was Canada who were carving out higher quality opportunities early on.

The co-hosts twice threatened to punish some poor marking during set pieces, first when Jonathan David volleyed wide Eustaquio’s corner and then when Derek Cornelius glanced a free header into the arms of Ronwen WIlliams.

Jesse Marsch’s high press that he has instilled in his Canada team caught out a sloppy pass out from South Africa’s defence by Mbokazi, but Oluwayesi’s shot from a tight angle to the left of goal was routinely caught by Williams.

There wasn’t much separating each side until right before first-half stoppage time when Canada somehow didn’t score after a goalmouth scramble that saw Moise Bambito’s header cleared off the line and Williams save the follow-up from yards out.

It would spark Canada into life, and they had a big call for a penalty dismissed as Ritchie Lareya went down under the challenge of Khuliso Mudau, who got the slightest of touches on the ball – deemed enough by VAR to confirm the on-field decision.

Bafana Bafana were bailed out again by Williams standing tall to make a big save one-on-one with Villareal forward Oluwayesi, and then had Mbokazi to thank for a superb intervention to prevent David tapping into the net on the follow-up.

Eustaquio provided a rare moment of sheer quality in the dying embers of the game, that looked destined for extra time and possibly penalties, firing home for his fifth international goal to set up a historic clash with the Netherlands or Morocco.