Canada and South Africa could not find an opening goal in the opening half of their knockout stage match, as the sides are tied 0-0 after 45 minutes.
The match in Los Angeles is the first of the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup this year, and Canada’s first match of the tournament not on home soil.
With the end of the half approaching, a corner try from Stephen Eustaquio found a leaping Moise Bombito in the penalty box, and his header beat the goalkeeper but could not get by an extra defender, as the ball trickled out to safety after a wild melee on the goal line. The score remained tied as South Africa survived another dangerous try for Canada.
Not a minute later Richie Laryea worked into the penalty box and appeared to be fouled - which would result in a penalty shot for Canada - but the referee ruled it a goal kick after some deliberation.
After South Africa controlled the pace early in the match, Canada took more control in the latter half of the opening 45 minutes. Tani Oluwaseyi found some open space in the penalty box after a South African clearance attempt was intercepted, and got some good velocity on the try, but the angle was too difficult and the South African keeper was able to make the save.
Through the match’s first 20 minutes, South Africa possessed the ball more but Canada drew more dangerous opportunities. In the 21st minute, Canada earned a free kick try from roughly 15 feet outside the penalty box - Eustaquio lifted a promising ball into the penalty box that found Derek Cornelius on a jumping header, but the defender did not get a good touch on the ball and it rolled harmlessly towards South Africa’s keeper.
South Africa registered the first attempt on goal in the fifth minute, forcing Maxime Crepeau to make a diving stop to keep the match scoreless.
Canada showed its offensive firepower in response in the ninth minute, when a good possession by Liam Millar ended with a dangerous try for Richie Laryea, whose shot was deflected by the goaltender and out for the game’s first corner. The attempt from Eustaquio sailed over the net and out to a harmless spot as the score remained 0-0.
The winner of this match will take on the winner of the battle between Netherlands and Morocco on Monday in the Round of 16.
Canada and South Africa are both playing in historic matches, as both sides are playing in the knockout stage for the first time in each nation’s history at the World Cup.
