Canada advances to World Cup Round of 16
Stephen Eustáquio scored in the 92nd minute to give Canada a 1-0 win over South Africa in its first-ever knockout-stage match.
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Canada's first men's FIFA World Cup knockout match ended in victory Sunday when Stephen Eustáquio scored two minutes into stoppage time against South Africa, advancing the team to the Round of 16.
At Pubblico Eatery on Wellington West, local fans packed the bar to watch the 3 p.m. match on one of seven TV screens. Most wore red or Canada's official soccer jerseys, cheering through a tight first half and an uneven second half.
Eustáquio's goal in the 92nd minute sparked celebration on screen and in the bar alike. Friends Devin Stratton and Scott Saunders called it "an absolute strike." Bartender Dustin Turgeon, a regular at Pubblico, described it as a "historic" win for Canada — the first time the country has advanced this far in World Cup history.
Co-owner Rani Aramoui said he and co-owner Rod Castro know roughly 90 percent of the fans who showed up to cheer for Canada by name. Coach Jesse Marsch's late-match decision to bring in Alphonso Davies injected crucial energy in the final minutes, according to fans at the bar. Turgeon said he'll be back at Pubblico next Sunday at 1 p.m. for Canada's next match.
