World Cup: Canada edge South Africa in tense affair
In Los Angeles, a Canada team full of current and former Ligue 1 McDonald's players edged upstarts South Africa 1-0 on a late goal by Stephen Eustaquio.
A strong Ligue 1 presence
Canada, smarting from having let first place in their group slip owing to a loss to Switzerland, played an attack-minded 4-4-2 with a strong Ligue 1 McDonald's flavor, and the long-awaited return of Alphonso Davies, who came off the bench. Jesse Marsch's XI featured Marseille's Derek Cornelius and Moïse Bombito of OGC Nice, the latter making his first start of the tournament, while former LOSC forward Jonathan David played 90 minutes in attack.
Despite Canada's clear status as favorites, it would be South Africa, for whom former Monaco striker Lyle Foster was an unused substitute, who would have the first chance, with Teboho Mokoena forcing a diving save with an effort from range on seven minutes. Canada responded well, and peppered Ronwen Williams' goal with a series of set pieces, but their best chance, on 44 minutes, was through Bombito, whose header from a corner was cleared off the line miraculously, and the match reached halftime scoreless despite Canada's subsequent shouts for a penalty
All eyes on Cornelius and Bombito today as they start against South Africa 👀 pic.twitter.com/WDKugIQxzc
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 28, 2026
Eustaquio breaks Bafana Bafana hearts
The second half unspooled far more cautiously, and South Africa had the better of things without really testing Maxime Crépeau in the Canada goal. After the South Africans failed to clear a Jacob Shaffelburg cross, though, captain Stephen Eustaquio pounced, beating Williams from the edge of the area and giving his side the victory.
With the win, next up for Canada is a match against the winner between the Netherlands and Morocco on Saturday in Houston, while South Africa exit the tournament having given a credible account of themselves after edging Czechia in a challenging group.
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