Canada makes history at SoFi as the knockouts begin
Stephen Eustáquio’s stoppage-time volley sent Canada past South Africa 1-0 in Inglewood — the biggest win in Canadian men’s soccer history. Up north in Sacramento, the X Games launched a new team era.
Good morning! Some Sunday. At SoFi, Stephen Eustáquio scored in second-half stoppage time to send Canada past South Africa and into the Round of 16 — the biggest win in the program’s history. In Sacramento, the X Games tipped off a new team-based league with records falling all weekend. The Dodgers took the rubber match in San Diego behind Emmet Sheehan and a vintage Mookie Betts. And the Aces lit up Chicago in a Commissioner’s Cup tune-up. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
⚽ Canadian heroes. Eustáquio’s stoppage-time volley beats South Africa 1-0 at SoFi and sends the co-hosts to the Round of 16 — Arash Markazi from Inglewood.
🛹 A new X Games era. X Games Sacramento debuts the team-based X Games League as Gui Khury, Arisa Trew and Garrett Reynolds rewrite the record books — Michael Silver at Cal Expo.
⚾ Dodgers take the series. Emmet Sheehan’s best start in a month and Mookie Betts’s two-run single carry L.A. past the Padres 4-2 — Fredo Cervantes at Petco Park.
🏀 Parker enshrined. Sparks great Candace Parker is inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame — Holland Kaplan in Knoxville.
🏀 Aces erupt. An offensive explosion powers Las Vegas past the Sky in a Commissioner’s Cup tune-up — Derek Hegna at the United Center.
See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.
📋 SCOREBOARD — SUNDAY, JUNE 28
⚽ World Cup (Round of 32): Canada 1, South Africa 0 (at SoFi)
⚾ MLB (Sun): Dodgers 4, Padres 2 · Angels 5, Athletics 1
🏀 WNBA: Aces 107, Sky 99
⚽ HISTORY IN INGLEWOOD
For 92 minutes it looked like South Africa might drag Canada to extra time — Ronwen Williams made five saves and Bafana Bafana defended deep. Then Alistair Johnston launched a long ball, the clearance fell to Stephen Eustáquio outside the box, and the LAFC midfielder — playing minutes from his club home — volleyed it into the bottom corner in the second minute of stoppage time. It was the first knockout-round win in Canadian men’s World Cup history.
Alphonso Davies, on in the 75th for his first World Cup action after a hamstring injury, changed the game’s tempo the moment he entered. “You guys are Canadian heroes!” coach Jesse Marsch shouted in the postmatch huddle. Canada advances to the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, in Houston, against the winner of Netherlands–Morocco.
GO DEEPER
› Arash Markazi: Eustáquio’s stoppage-time goal sends Canada to a historic World Cup win (The Sporting Tribune)
› TST Images: Canada defeats South Africa, 1-0, at SoFi Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)
TOGETHER WITH BETONLINE
Today’s TST Best Bets are brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Join here — new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
🛹 THE X GAMES LEAGUE ERA TIPS OFF
Action sports got a franchise model this weekend. X Games Sacramento debuted the team-based X Games League — clubs repping Los Angeles, New York, São Paulo and Tokyo chasing a $500,000 prize — and the stars delivered. Gui Khury, 17, swept Men’s Skateboard Vert and now owns the most medals of any teenager in X Games history. Arisa Trew, 16, tied Lindsey Jacobellis for the most golds ever by a woman. And Garrett Reynolds claimed his 17th career gold to extend his status as the most decorated athlete the Games have ever seen.
The L.A. angle ran throughout: SoCal’s Gavin Bottger defended his Skateboard Park title for XC LA, Brady Baker won BMX Dirt for the same club, and 11-year-old Mia Kretzer closed the weekend as the youngest gold medalist in X Games history. The summer circuit heads to Japan in July before finals in New Orleans.
› Michael Silver: MoonPay X Games League era begins in the Golden State (The Sporting Tribune)
⚾ DODGERS LEAVE PETCO WITH THE SERIES
After splitting the heavyweight portion of the weekend — Walker Buehler’s statement win for San Diego on Friday, a 15-3 Dodgers rout on Saturday — Los Angeles took the rubber match 4-2 on Sunday. Emmet Sheehan turned in his best start in over a month (five innings, one run, five strikeouts), Freddie Freeman drew a bases-loaded walk Dave Roberts called the at-bat of the game, and Betts lined a two-run single to chase Michael King. At 54-30, the Dodgers own the best record in baseball.
› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers ride Sheehan’s strong start to a win over the Padres (The Sporting Tribune)
› Fernando Ramirez: Michael King takes blame after costly 5th-inning non-challenge (The Sporting Tribune)
🏒 GOLDEN KNIGHTS SORT OUT THE CREASE
Fresh off a draft weekend that saw Vegas turn Pavel Dorofeyev into Juho Piiparinen and picks, the Golden Knights made a roster move that clarifies their goaltending picture heading into 2026-27. Derek Hegna breaks down what it signals for a franchise that doesn’t do rebuilds.
› Derek Hegna: Latest roster move sheds light on the Golden Knights’ goaltending situation (The Sporting Tribune)
📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, JUNE 29
⚽ World Cup (Round of 32): Brazil vs. Japan — FOX — 10 a.m. PT
⚽ World Cup (Round of 32): Germany vs. Paraguay — FOX — 1:30 p.m. PT
⚾ MLB: Padres at Cubs — PTV — 5:05 p.m. PT
⚽ World Cup (Round of 32): Netherlands vs. Morocco — FOX — 6 p.m. PT
⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Athletics — SNLA — 6:30 p.m. PT
⚾ MLB: Angels at Mariners — ABTV — 6:30 p.m. PT
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TODAY?
Get-in prices across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.
⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Athletics — $200
🌴 TST TRIVIA
Stephen Eustáquio, who scored Canada’s historic stoppage-time winner at SoFi, plays his club soccer for which Southern California team?
Answer at the bottom.
🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY
Today’s episode relives a historic Sunday at SoFi as Canada advances, breaks down the new X Games League out of Sacramento, and recaps the Dodgers’ series win over the Padres. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.
› Listen to the latest episode
Trivia answer: LAFC. Eustáquio plays his club soccer for LAFC — and scored Canada’s winner a few miles from his home stadium.
Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.