National Writer: Charles Boehm<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2013 When his right foot thumped the game-winning goal past South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Stephen Eust\u00e1quio<\/a> wasn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Canada<\/a>\u2019s classy central midfielder was surrounded by yellow Bafana Bafana jerseys at the top of the penalty box as he chested down a clearance and hit his clinical half-volley two minutes into injury time.<\/p>\n But Eust\u00e1quio felt the power of a collective \u2013 an entire soccer nation, really \u2013 at his back as he sent Les Rouges into the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> Round of 16 via their first-ever knockout-round victory, and just the second World Cup win of their program\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that shot,\u201d an emotional Eust\u00e1quio told reporters postgame following the 1-0 victory<\/a> over South Africa in the Round of 32, \u201cI felt that everybody in the team shot that ball with me.<\/p>\n “We just have to believe, and I shot it with everything I had.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Stephen Eust\u00e1quio in the 92nd minute to put Canada on top! \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6pic.twitter.com\/pO9jenTqQq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n It was high drama befitting the first knockout match of the tournament, a cinematic way for this Canada side to make more memories and keep charming their compatriots back home. The goal staved off the looming threat of extra time and all the effort and tension that it imposes, too, prompting warm tributes to both the quality and character of \u2018Staqs,\u2019 as he is often called among the squad.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s probably honestly one of the perfect guys to score and take us to the next round,\u201d said Toronto FC<\/a> defender Richie Laryea<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s selfless; he gives 110% every single time he steps on the pitch. When Fonzie [Alphonso Davies] is not in, he’s the captain; he leads by example. So yeah, for him to get that goal, and everything he’s done in this jersey since he started, I think it’s special.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Canadian soccer player, Stephen Antunes Eust\u00e1quio playing soccer as a kid in Leamington, Ontario. Eust\u00e1quio just scored to advance Canada further into the World Cup competition. \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 pic.twitter.com\/3IqN3XhQ2b<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Old Canada Series (@oldcanadaseries) June 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Eust\u00e1quio’s heroics sparked pure delight among the massed ranks of red-clad Canadian fans at Los Angeles Stadium, and his teammates, too, with even Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 \u2013 in the early stages of recovery from the gruesome broken leg he suffered in the Group Stage win<\/a> over Qatar \u2013 hobbling into the blur of bodies to dance after the final whistle, celebrations that carried over into the locker room.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven’t felt that in a while. That was a similar feeling to how we felt during Copa [Am\u00e9rica 2024, when they made a Cinderella run to the semifinals] \u2013 and for it to be Staqs as well, he’s a heartbeat of this team,\u201d said Minnesota United alum Tani Oluwaseyi.<\/p>\n \u201cHe works so hard on the field, one of our leaders off the field. So for it to be him that gets that goal, honestly, I think we’re all just ecstatic; we\u2019re all elated. I think we played really well in the game, and no one wants to go to extra time, especially. Guys’ legs get tired, legs get heavy, especially on the four-day turnaround. So for it to go in like that, man, that’s why we play this game, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After fracturing his leg in Canada’s second Group Stage match, Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 wasn’t going to miss celebrating his team’s game-winning goal \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 pic.twitter.com\/h9SVg8WlaD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n That unforgettable moment was the crown jewel of a trademark Eust\u00e1quio engine-room performance: He also completed 90 percent of his 48 passes, including a game-high five chances created, and added five defensive contributions, six recoveries and a bevy of duels won.<\/p>\n This marked his 60th cap for Canada; he\u2019s seen this program clamber up from profoundly humble circumstances to reach this lofty stage. Most powerfully of all, his joy and pride are a comfort after losing both of his parents in painful circumstances in the space of one year in 2023 and 2024, rocking him to his core and prompting deep reflections<\/a> about his life and purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cSteph is one of the people in the team that I think is the most reliable,\u201d said head coach Jesse Marsch, \u201cand understands what we’re trying to achieve as a group, and understands how to manage moments and games and to be a leader, to be a true leader, obviously with everything that he’s been through with his parents’ passing away.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kind of family man he is, and the kind of person he is, I couldn’t think of a more deserving human being \u2013 in a group of incredible human beings, maybe Steph is the most deserving to have a moment like that. So I’m really happy for him, and I think from somewhere his parents are looking down and they saw that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Now he and his comrades will watch the Netherlands and Morocco clash in Monterrey on Monday evening to learn which global heavyweight they will face in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston, where they\u2019ll try to keep dreaming for one more night.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a special group. We feel like we are brothers, and at the same time, when we fight for each other, when we play for each other, special things like this can happen,\u201d explained Eust\u00e1quio, who joined LAFC<\/a> in February on loan from Portuguese powerhouse FC Porto. \u201cI’m over the moon, but at the same time, I don’t want to say that the job’s finished.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that we’re going to get Morocco or Netherlands, which is going to be a very hard game. And we hope that when they saw the game back home, that they felt that next week the game is going to be very tough for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Perfect hero<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Mr. Reliable<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Special group<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n