Canadians live to fight another day after late Eustaquio brilliance

Canada's historic 1-0 victory over South Africa in the World Cup's round of 32 is not one that's going to be spoken about as a scintillating advertisement for the sport. Sunday's match lacked the flowing, fluid movements that fans point to as an example of the Beautiful Game.

It was, at times, a scrap.

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Two teams stepping onto the knockout stages of the World Cup for the very first time were always going to be nervy. And that showed up on the pitch, as missed passes and failed counterattacks piled up, with one side seemingly far less willing to push forward than the other.

For Canada, luck also seemed against them despite their commitment to actually playing soccer. First Derek Cornelius flubs a point-blank header. Then Moise Bombito has his headed effort cleared off the line. And that was just in the first half.

The Canadians ended with seven shots on target and 1.32 expected goals, but it wasn't until the second minute of stoppage time that they were able to find a breakthrough.

A Jacob Shaffelburg cross was cleared out of the South African penalty area by Ime Okon, but the central defender put very little power on his clearance, sending the ball directly to an onrushing Stephen Eustaquio. The Leamington, Ontario native collected the ball off his chest, let it bounce, and struck a low, driven volley from the top of the box and into the bottom-left corner of the South African goal, sending the pro-Canada crowd at Los Angeles Stadium into a frenzy.

"When I took the shot, I felt everyone in Canada shoot with me," Eustaquio said after the match. "Everybody put a little power on it. I'm so happy."

It was no less than what the Canadians deserved, having carried the play for much of the game despite often being let down by their own finishing. 

The teams seemed destined for extra time, and with it another 30 minutes of imprecise, gritty football, but Eustaquio's well-struck goal put a merciful end to that notion. Instead, Canada will move on to the round of 16 for the first time, with either Netherlands or Morocco as the opposition.

If the last-16 match on July 4 is Canada's final hurrah at this tournament — and the odds will certainly be against them against either powerhouse — then at least they'll go down knowing that they did it on their own terms.

Fighting until the very end.

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