Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not.
Every Canadian scoring chance sent fans inside Leopold’s Tavern in Regina to their feet Sunday afternoon.
Just seconds later, the room would fill with another collective groan.
That cycle repeated for nearly 90 minutes before the tension finally gave way to celebration, as Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 to earn the men’s national team’s first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout victory and advance to the Round of 16.
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When Stephen Eustáquio’s late winner hit the back of the net, strangers hugged, drinks were raised and chants of “Canada!” echoed throughout the packed sports bar.
For many supporters, it was a moment they never thought they would see.
Helena Rego and a companion smile outside Leopold’s Tavern after Canada’s World Cup knockout victory. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
“I couldn’t believe what I just saw,” said Helena Rego, who was visiting Regina from Winnipeg.
“All I kept thinking was, ‘We’re going ahead.’ It was beautiful. It was nice to see all the fans react here.”
Rego said she hoped Canada would finish the match before extra time.
“I just wanted to get the ball in the back of the net and call it the game.”
She called Eustáquio’s winning strike “totally clinical.”
“It was beautiful,” she said. “Of course, Davies came in and was the game changer.”
The atmosphere inside Leopold’s had been much different only minutes earlier.
Canada controlled large stretches of the match and created repeated scoring opportunities, but supporters were left wondering whether one would finally find the back of the net.
Earlier in the afternoon, Rego remained optimistic.
“If they keep pressing the way they do, good chance that ball is going to end up in the back of the net for Canada,” she said.
Jake Norman, left, alongside his friends was at Leopold’s Tavern before Canada’s historic FIFA World Cup knockout victory over South Africa in Regina on Sunday. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
That confidence was shared by Jake Norman, who believed Canada was the better team throughout the match despite the scoreless first half.
“We created lots of opportunities,” Norman said during halftime. “We just couldn’t get that finishing touch.”
After the match, he said the patience paid off.
“It came right down to the wire, but we pulled it out,” Norman said.
“We thought it was going to extra time, so we ordered another round of drinks. Now they’re celebratory drinks.”
Norman said he made sure the people around him understood the significance of the moment.
“I was saying to my buddy, ‘you’re witnessing history,’” he said. “If you guys don’t know too much about soccer, you’re watching history right now.”
Former University of Saskatchewan Huskies soccer player Ella Molnar celebrates Canada’s historic FIFA World Cup knockout victory outside Leopold’s Tavern in Regina. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
Former University of Saskatchewan Huskies soccer player Ella Molnar said the excitement surrounding the men’s national team continues to grow.
“The energy is awesome,” Molnar said.
“The men’s program making leaps and how soccer’s developing in Canada has been phenomenal. I’m really happy to see it.”
She said Canada’s teamwork stood out throughout the match.
“They were really melding together,” she said. “Their formation was great, and they were turning on the heat when it mattered.”
Looking ahead, Molnar said the formula doesn’t need to change.
“They’ve got good momentum going,” she said. “They just need to stay steady, recognize those moments, those spaces and those runs when they can, and capitalize on it.”
Rich Newman, left, and a friend watch Canada defeat South Africa at Leopold’s Tavern during the FIFA World Cup knockout stage on Sunday. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
For Rich Newman, Sunday’s victory represented years of progress for Canadian soccer.
“In the past 10 years, we’ve gone from missing World Cups to qualifying and going winless to now not only getting wins and making it to the knockout stage, but we finally have a win in the knockout round,” Newman said.
“I’m fully elated.”
Newman described the final moments as nerve-racking before Eustáquio’s breakthrough.
“That’s when your heart stops,” he said. “But we did a great job clearing the ball and taking care of it in our end.”
He believes supporters witnessed a defining moment for the national team.
“This is a historical moment,” Newman said. “It’s one that sits with you forever.”
Long after the final whistle, fans remained inside Leopold’s Tavern reliving the winning goal, talking about Canada’s next opponent and soaking in a victory decades in the making.
For one afternoon in Regina, every missed chance, every nervous moment and every collective sigh became part of a celebration that Canadian soccer supporters won’t soon forget.
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