South Africa#86 · 4 pts's World Cup run came to an end in the Round of 32, as Canada#84 · 4 pts squeezed past them 1-0 to book their place in the Round of 16. The two sides arrived at this knockout tie on close to even terms, with Canada#84 · 4 pts given a 51.9% chance of advancing against South Africa#86 · 4 pts's 48.1%, and the match lived up to that billing: a tight, cagey affair settled by a single goal.
There's no second leg and no group table to fall back on in the knockout stage, so that one goal was the difference between two very different nights. Canada#84 · 4 pts move on to face tougher opposition in the Round of 16, while South Africa#86 · 4 pts's tournament is over, their run ending at the first knockout hurdle after coming through the group stage.
It's the cruelty of the format: one bad night and a team that fought through three rounds of group football is on its way home, while the winners barely get to celebrate before turning their attention to the next round. Canada#84 · 4 pts will want to enjoy this one, because the matches only get harder from here.