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Canada players celebrate after No 7 Stephen Eustaquio scored two minutes into added time to book the co-host’s place in the next round - Fran Santiago/Getty Images
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For 91 minutes, this was not the advert for the newly expanded knockout stages that Fifa would have hoped for.
The first ever round-of-32 match in the 96-year history of the World Cup had been a complete snooze fest until Stephen Eustáquio popped up in stoppage time to score a stunning goal, send Canada into the last 16 and break South African hearts in the process.
It was a finish worthy of winning any game and a rare moment of quality in an otherwise turgid encounter in Los Angeles. Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president and brains behind this 48-team World Cup, will hope the forthcoming round-of-32 matches throw up more drama.
Co-hosts Canada may have given up home advantage after failing to win their group but their American coach Jesse Marsch is determined to make a point on US soil.
Unhappy at being passed over for the United States job in the last few years, Marsch has already aimed a dig at the home nation at this tournament.
During his time as assistant to former US manager Bob Bradley, Marsch revealed how they would have to “beg” some players to sing the national anthem and contrasted that to the passion he has seen from his Canadian players.
In truth, Canada are going to have to play better than this if they hope to trouble Netherlands or Morocco in the last 16.
Eustáquio’s finish, taking the ball on his chest before firing a bullet of a volley low into the corner after South Africa failed to clear a cross, was superb. But this was otherwise a hard watch. Marsch was furious his side were not awarded a penalty in the first half when Richie Laryea went down under a challenge from Khuliso Mudau although replays showed the South Africa defender got a faint touch on the ball.
Moïse Bombito had to stop Marsch from confronting the referee at half-time after the Canada coach had strode on to the pitch ready to berate the Portuguese official. He was at least a lot happier by the final whistle.
10:27pm
Eustaquio realistic about Canada’s chances
10:09pm
Jesse Marsch with his players in the huddle
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Canada coach Jesse Marsch celebrates - Lisi Niesner/Reuters
09:59pm
FT: South Africa 0 Canada 1
Canada are through to the last 16, and looking at the draw there is a good chance Mexico and United States can join them. Good for the tournament to see the co-hosts progress. There was not much to like about either team’s performance, it was an eyesore of the game. Eustaquio is now a Canadian hero and a neutrals’ favourite because he spared us another 30 minutes of stodge.
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Stephen Eustaquio provided the game’s one moment of quality - Andre Penner/AP
09:57pm
96 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1
Canada’s goalkeeper Crepeau commands his box well and claims a cross. Canada fans can breathe easily, now surely.
09:56pm
95 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1
Mbokazi is up from the back for South Africa, and Cornelius clears his low cross. Around one minute for Canada to defend, and Cornelius wins another header from Appollis’s cross.
09:55pm
94 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1
South Africa are now lumping the ball forward having spent the game passing slowly, but the clock is against them.
09:53pm
GOOAAALL! Eustaquio the hero for Canada
Finally, a moment of quality to break the game open. Decent three-man combination on Canada’s right to release Shaffelburg to cross into the box; headed clear, but Canada’s captain Eustaquio controlled the ball on his midriff and found the bottom corner with a sweet strike. Great moment for him with just four minutes of stoppage time remaining.
09:50pm
89 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Appollis has been the likeliest to make something happen for South Africa, almost picking out Rayners with a good through ball but Canada centre-back Cornelius recovered to win an important challenge.
More boos now as South Africa goalkeeper Williams waits on the ball, looking for a pass.
09:47pm
86 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
South Africa’s turn to make a double sub: Maseko and Makgopa off, Rayners and Moremi on.
09:45pm
84 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
There has been booing throughout the second half whenever South Africa pass the along their backline.
South Africa do get into the last third though, but Appollis’s deflected shot is saved.
09:41pm
81 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Both teams play stray passes within five seconds of each other which rather sums the game up. Alphonso Davies does not look at his sharpest but has at least provided more thrust down the left for Canada.
09:39pm
78 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Canada starting to build some pressure, Jonathan David working space in the box for a left-footed shot from a tight angle, but Williams stood up well to save. Can Canada find the goal to spare themselves extra time?
09:37pm
76 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Much better from Canada, Alphonso Davies involved in the move, and after the ball was set back to Promise David he fired not far wide from around 25 yards.
09:36pm
75 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
When South Africa execute their high-wire, playing-out-at-all-costs style, it causes the opposition real problems. Canada cut open, but the move ends with a silly shot from distance that was always rising. South Africa do not capitalise on those moments enough.
Alphonso Davies is now on for Canada, who have made all five subs.
09:32pm
71 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
No Davies yet, but Marsch has made a double sub: Shaffelburg and Promise David are the players on, Millar and Oluwaseyi those replaced. The game has resumed after the drinks break.
09:28pm
68 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
No boos for this hydration break, presumably because the crowd are delighted that the game has stopped.
James wonders if it is time for Marsch to roll the dice on a star player.
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Marsch had claimed Alphonso Davies was “more than ready” to play after admitting to a silly ruse to keep opponents guessing over his star player’s availability. But if he’s more than ready it’s odd the Bayern Munich player has not been introduced so far. Because this game desperately needs an injection of quality.
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Canada’s Alphonso Davies - Daniel Cole/Reuters
09:27pm
Put your phone away for Mexican waves
09:26pm
65 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Finally, some quality on show in the second half from Canada. Sigur with a through ball behind the defence for the speedy Oluwaseyi, and he is too quick for his man. Tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper with his left foot but Williams made a good save, with the ball looping up towards the goal. Magnificent defending from Mbokazi to clear acrobatically or else David would have had an open goal.
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Mbokazi cleared in front of Jonathan David - Gregory Bull/AP
09:23pm
62 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Decent effort from long range by South Africa’s left-winger Appollis, sending two Canada players the wrong way to make room for the shot, but it was always swerving wide. The game is crying out for a goal.
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This has been a hard watch so far. Lots of huff and puff from both sides but very little in the way of quality. I thought Canada would open up that South Africa defence given how they started and the Africans’ vulnerability at set pieces but Marsch’s side look short of ideas going forward now. And South Africa have improved as the game has gone on. It’s got 0-0, extra time and penalties written all over it as things stand. Let’s hope things liven up and someone can force a breakthrough.
09:19pm
59 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Changes from Jesse Marsch: Sigur on for Saliba in midfield, probably because of that yellow card. De Fougerolles has replaced Bombito at the back; a like-for-like in defence with the game goalless is a strange one, unless Bombito has knock.
09:18pm
56 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Modiba whips in a cross from left-back for South Africa but there it too much height on it, and it is an easy claim for Crépeau. Some better football from South Africa in the build up.
09:15pm
54 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Yellow card for Canada midfielder Saliba for bringing down Mudau after he nutmegged Millar. Neither goalkeeper has had to make a save at the start of the second half.
09:10pm
49 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
The game remains quite fracture. South Africa trying and failing to pass and move their way 60 or 70 yards up the pitch, Canada wasting the ball when they win it back in transition moments. Will we see Cyle Larin before too long off the Canada bench?
09:08pm
47 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
It looked like Johnston had done ever so well to keep the ball alive and whip a cross in but eventually the flag goes up to tell the referee it is a South Africa goal kick.
09:06pm
We’re back under way!
One half-time change by South Africa: Mbatha on in midfield, replacing Mofokeng.
09:04pm
Refereeing expert Christina Unkel on the penalty call
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Richie Laryea went to ground - Frederic J Brown/Getty Images
08:53pm
Marsch unhappy with the refereeing
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When the half time whistle sounded, Marsch strided on to the pitch, clearly with the intention of collaring the referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro, who has been lenient in the extreme. But the Canada coach ends up being stopped in his tracks by his defender Bombito and told to leave it. Marsch obliges.
I don’t think Canada have been happy with some of the challenges that have gone unpunished or by the failure to award a penalty on the cusp of half-time, although in that instance Pinheiro appeared to have made the right call. Mudau got some of the ball before taking down Laryea.
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Jesse Marsch was calmed down by his own player - Andre Penner/AP
08:51pm
HT: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Jesse Marsch furious with that penalty decision, he marched on to the pitch and was halted by his centre-back Bombito who persuaded his manager to calm down.
With that credible penalty shout and the goalmouth scramble, Canada are ahead on points after 45 minutes.
But in the city of Hollywood, this has not been a classic. Less Casablanca, more drawn-a-blank-a.
08:47pm
45 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Now a big shout for a Canada penalty. Difficult one to call this, Mudau’s leg stepped into the path of Laryea as he was winding up to shoot or cross, but you could make the case that the Canada player kicked the defender’s legs. The latter view is the conclusion reached by the VAR room, and the referee’s on-pitch penalty stands. No penalty.
08:45pm
44 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Just as the game was meandering sleepily towards half time, a massive goal-mouth scramble in the South Africa box from a Canada corner! Bombito rose highest, but his header was cleared off the line by Modiba, before Williams saved the rebound. That’s the closest either side has come to scoring.
08:40pm
40 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Sithole was sent off in the first game of the tournament against Mexico but that does not seem to have deterred him from being physical and leaving a bit on his opponents. No clear-cut chances for some time in this game.Oluwaseyi has now won Canada a free-kick in a crossing position wide right.
Buchanan heads over the bar.
08:35pm
35 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Canada regain possession high up, Saliba intercepting Mokoena’s pass, before Oluwaseyi’s shot from a right angle is caught by Williams. South Africa then win a corner but it comes to nothing.
08:34pm
33 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
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If Canada don’t win this comfortably, I’d be surprised. South Africa are all over the place defensively and look extremely vulnerable defending set pieces. Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius have both squandered good chances.
08:29pm
29 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Saliba continues to make his presence felt in midfield for Canada, he has had an impressive tournament so far. The atmosphere has fallen a little flat, South Africa keeping the ball but it is sterile possession across their defence.
08:27pm
27 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Play has now resumed after the first hydration break.
08:23pm
23 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
More loud boos greet the start of the first hydration break, but Jesse Marsch looks keen for a chat with his players.
08:22pm
22 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Big chance for Canada from a wide free-kick! Eustaquio floated ina really teasing delivery, and the flag did not go up against the unmarked centre-back Cornelius but he did not get enough purchase on the header.
08:21pm
20 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
South Africa are very patient with their build-up play from the back, trying to draw Canada out of position. Canada look the sharper of the two sides, but not by a great margin.
08:17pm
16 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Not for the first time in the game, a Canada player is slow to take a shot in the box. David was picked out unmarked, but he tried to take a touch and set himself. The yellow shirts quickly converged on him.
Outswinging corner delivered by Eustaquio, and David poked wide on the volley.
Famous last words, but this does not feel like a game that will finish goalless.
08:14pm
14 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
South Africa’s No 10 Mofokeng showing his quality, some neat touches and passes around the edge of the box. Canada break though, through Millar down the left, but Madau raced across and made a great defensive challenge.
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Khuliso Mudau tackles Liam Millar - Kiyoshi Mio/Reuters
08:12pm
11 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
“Gianni Infantino... he gets everywhere,” says ITV’s main commentator on the game. Always positive when you’re spoken about like Japanese knotweed.
Canada’s best moments are coming down their right flank. Johnston forward to good effect again, and he picked out Oluwaseyi with a low ball to the edge of the box, but he could not quite get a shot away.
08:08pm
7 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Quite an open start to the game: Canada goalkeeper Crépeau parries a Mokoena shot from distance before Jonathan David harries well to win a foul.
South Africa look uncomfortable defending long balls forward, and Buchanan puts Mbokazi under pressure but a goal kick is awarded to South Africa.
08:06pm
5 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Modiba defends well for South Africa after Buchanan and Johnston threaten to combine down the Canada right. Johnston, who plays for Celtic, then makes a headed clearance after South Africa tried to find Appollis with a switch to the left.
08:03pm
3 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 0
Canada with the first attack of note, moving across the pitch from right to left, but South Africa defend stoutly up against the left-back Laryea.
Then Canada’s centre-back Bombito plays a stray pass into midfield but his team-mates bail him out.
08:00pm
KICK OFF!
South African get the game started, and the World Cup knockout stages have now begun.
07:55pm
The teams are out
Time for the anthems in Los Angeles. This is not quite a home game for Canada like in the group stages, but it is a darn sight short journey for their fans than the South Africans.
Jesse Marsch, an American from Wisconsin, sings the anthem too, less reticent than Thomas Tuchel.
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South Africa are one of nine African nations to reach the knockout stages, which is quite remarkable. Only Tunisia missed out. I still strongly fancy Canada for this one, though.
They may have given up home advantage after finishing runners up in Group B but don’t underestimate their American coach Jesse Marsch’s desire to prove a point in the US. The former Leeds manager was overlooked for the USMNT job when Gregg Berhalter was rehired and again when he exited before Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment and there’s been some saltiness since.
Marsch recalled how, when he was assistant to Bob Bradley with the US team, they had to “beg” some players to sing the national anthem but has had no such issues with Canada’s players, who “belt out the [Canadian national anthem] at the top of their lungs”.
One of the US players at that time, Clint Dempsey, now a pundit with Fox News, responded to Marsch’s provocation by telling him to “stay in his lane”. “I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and is singing another country’s national anthem,” Dempsey snapped.
07:42pm
Canada’s top scorer in the tournament
Jonathan David scored three goals in the group stage. His name was a fixture in transfer gossip columns for several seasons, linked to a host of Premier League clubs including Arsenal thanks to his goalscoring at Lille. David finally made his big move last summer, to Juventus, but finished the season in Italy with just six goals.
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Canada’s Jonathan David during the warm up - Jessie Alcheh/Reuter
07:31pm
Canadian starter kit
The late Martin Amis and his father Kingsley were fond of a game which involved coming up with titles for the thinnest books imaginable. An Anthology of Canadian Humour was one of their favourites.
That’s some mild ribbing compared with comedian Jerry Sadowitz’s famed family unfriendly greeting to a Canadian audience.
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Can you fit the culture of a country on to a placard? - Shutterstock/Scott Strazzante
07:16pm
South Africa team news
Just the one change from the win over South Korea, Mokoena replaces Mbatha in central midfield.
South Africa XI: Williams, Modiba, Mbokazi, Okon, Mudau, Sithole, Mokoena, Appollis, Mofokeng, Maseko, Makgopa
Subs: Chaine, Goss, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Sibisi, Makhanya, Sebelebele, Cross, Mbatha, Adams, Moremi, Foster, Zwane, Rayners
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Relebohile Mofokeng will play as South Afruca’s No 10 - Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
06:52pm
Nine African sides qualified
Only Tunisia failed to make it beyond the group stage, with Cape Verde, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco and South Africa finishing runners-up in their respective groups and Algeria, DR Congo, Ghana and Senegal all finishing among the eight best third-placed finishers.
06:48pm
Canada team news: Four changes from Switzerland defeat
Moise Bombito replaces De Fougerolles at centre-back; Liam Millar in for Ali Ahmed on the left wing; Stephen Eustáquio replaces Choiniere in central midfield and, most surprisingly of all, Tani Oluwaseyi is preferred to Cyle Larin up top.
Canada XI: Crepeau, Laryea, Cornelius, Bombito, Johnston, Millar, Eustaquio, Saliba, Buchanan, Oluwaseyi, J David
Subs: St Clair, Goodman, Jones, De Fougerolles, Waterman, Davies, Sigur, Choiniere, Shaffelburg, Ahmed, Osorio, Nelson, Larin, P David
06:41pm
Betting offers
06:34pm
Our predictor just got simpler
No more third-placed teams to guess: just predict the outcome of 16 games, then eight, then four, then two and then one. Sounds easy, enough. Have a go at our World Cup predictor here.
06:30pm
South Africa’s passing game to be tested by Marsch’s pressing
Between 1998 and 2022 every World Cup featured 32 teams, and we have spent more than two weeks and 74 matches to arrive back at that same point.
That is the new format for you, but the group stage is over, and the jeopardy of the knockout rounds is very welcome with South Africa vs Canada the first game of the last 32.
Jesse Marsch’s Canada are strong favourites to progress, although this game in Los Angeles will be their first of the tournament not played on home soil. For South Africa, this is their first time in the World Cup knockouts, guided by 74-year-old head coach Hugo Broos.
Canada had more shots on goal than their opponents in each of their three group games, which included a 6-0 win over Qatar, with Jonathan David and Cyle Larin spearheading their attack. They missed the chance to win the group against Switzerland in the third game, but this draw has been kind to them.
South Africa made a bad first impression when they lost 2-0 to Mexico and had two players sent off in the first game of the tournament on June 11, when they produced one of the worst team performances we have seen.
They have rallied since then, though. Their second-half pressure against Czech Republic helped them score a well-deserved equaliser, before they pulled off a surprise by holding South Korea at bay in a 1-0 victory.
South Africa’s possession stats against African opposition are extremely high, and their commitment to passing short from the back does bring an element of risk. They were caught on the ball in dangerous areas against Mexico, and Marsch will surely want to close them down with his high-intensity approach honed under the Red Bull umbrella.
The winners of this game will play either Netherlands or Morocco.
Full team news on the way shortly.
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