世界杯淘汰赛：尤斯塔基奥补时绝杀，加拿大一比零淘汰南非晋级

Today we're talking about a very special World Cup match: Canada beat South Africa one to zero.

It's special because this is the first game of the knockout stage.

First, let's explain what the knockout stage is.

In the earlier group stage, losing one game still left a chance — you could take it slowly.

But in the knockouts, the rules change completely: lose one game, and you go straight home.

So every knockout game is a "life-or-death battle," especially tense.

First, a word on the two teams.

Canada is one of the hosts of this World Cup, playing on home soil.

South Africa comes from Africa, a sizable surprise of this World Cup.

They played well in the group stage to make it all the way here.

The two teams are actually fairly close in quality, so before the match everyone felt it would be hard to call.

For Canada, this World Cup means a great deal.

They're a host, and the whole nation's fans hope the team can go a bit further.

So in this game, the pressure on them was real — win, and the nation rejoices; lose, and the World Cup ends on home soil.

Sure enough, the game was very tight.

Both teams were cautious, because neither could afford to lose.

They didn't dare push up heavily, fearing the opponent would seize a chance.

So all game, attacking chances were few, and the score stayed zero to zero.

The fans grew more and more tense: will this go to extra time?

Just as everyone thought it would be a draw, the final moment arrived.

The game had entered stoppage time when Canada's Eustáquio suddenly scored.

This goal came so late, almost the last kick of the game.

One to zero, Canada landed a winner before the final whistle!

The whole stadium erupted, Canada's players rushing over to pile together.

How to view this game?

For Canada, this is a nervy yet precious win.

As hosts, they withstood the pressure and advanced on a goal at the very last moment.

To win such a hard battle at home, in front of their fans, is a huge boost to the whole team's confidence.

Now Canada has successfully entered the next round, and their World Cup journey continues.

For South Africa, losing this game is of course a great pity.

They defended very tenaciously, almost dragging the game into extra time.

Sadly, they conceded at the last moment, and their World Cup journey ends here.

But looking back, South Africa's showing this time far exceeded many people's expectations.

To make it all the way to the knockouts is itself a remarkable journey.

Losing to host Canada, and by only one goal, they have nothing to regret.

This game also illustrates a feature of the knockouts: often one goal decides everything.

In the group stage, a loss can be made up in the next game; but in the knockouts, one mistake, one goal, can knock you straight out.

So in the knockouts, teams play extra carefully, scores are often small, and the games are more nerve-wracking.

Today Canada seized the one chance they had and laughed last.

That's Canada one to zero South Africa — a knockout decided by a goal at the very last moment.