Stephen Eustaquio scored a stoppage-time winner as Canada knocked South Africa out of the World Cup in the round of 32, but he cut an emotional figure after the game
Stephen Eustaquio was in tears after scoring the goal that booked Canada’s place in the last-16 of the World Cup. Eustaquio’s stoppage-time strike sealed the co-hosts a 1-0 victory against South Africa and set up a last-16 tie against Morocco or the Netherlands in Houston on July 4.
In a game that had lacked real quality, the 29-year-old lashed home from the edge of the box in the second minute of added time at the Los Angeles Stadium. And speaking after the game, Eustaquio had tears in his eyes as he remembered his parents after his mum passed away in 2023 following a battle against brain cancer, and his dad died a year later following a heart attack.
“Everything I do is for my family, for my parents, for my girlfriend, for my daughter,” a clearly emotional Eustaquio said. “For my friends back home. For everyone.”
Reflecting on the win, the midfielder said: “I think we worked a lot to get this victory. We really wanted to give this win to all of the Canadians. We just kept believing, kept pushing and I couldn’t have imagined it any other way.
“I think it was an amazing goal but when I shot, I felt everyone shot with me. They put a little bit of power on it and it went into the back of the net. So I am very happy.
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Before he added on his side’s belief: “It started when we came out of the group stage. I think when it comes to the knockouts of the World Cup, the belief brings a big part to it.
“Now, we’re going to get Morocco or the Netherlands and who knows, on a good day we can make things happen. Probably the quality is not going to be there, but if we keep believing and keep working, things might go our way.”
While Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said: “We knew the game would get a little wild sometimes because they like to play in open spaces and sometimes, in transition, they can be very difficult to deal with.
“We tried to make sure that we kept our structure and we tried to say we keep ramping up the level of the game and come from the bench and get stronger and see if we could punish them at some point. We had chances in the whole game, but we weren’t lethal enough.
“Then it fell to Steph and I’m just hoping he puts it on frame and gives us a chance. He buries it. I can’t help but think of all the hard work from these guys.
“The character. They are Canadian heroes, that’s what I told them at the end. They are now Canadian heroes. I am so happy for them.”
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