Morocco top Group F with win over Canada
Group F
Canada 1-2 Morocco
An impassioned Moroccan team clinched a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 1986 by defeating the already-eliminated Canadians 2-1, mercilessly capitalising on their opponents blunders.
Morocco, who needed a win or a draw in their final Group F match to reach the knockout rounds, took advantage of a weak clearance by goalkeeper Milan Borjan that landed on the foot of Hakim Ziyech.
Cheered on by a boisterous crowd of Moroccan fans, midfielder Ziyech effortlessly lobbed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper to open scoring in the fourth minute.
Borjan had been placed in an unenviable position by central defender Steven Vitoria, whose weak back pass forced the goalkeeper to race Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri to the ball.
En-Nesyri remained dangerous throughout the first half, doubling Morocco’s lead in the 23rd minute when he ran onto a long ball from Achraf Hakimi and beat Borjan at the near post.
En-Nesyri also thumped a volley into the Canadian net during stoppage time in the first half but that goal was ruled offside.
With Croatia drawing with Belgium in the other Group F game, Morocco finish first in the group and will face the second-place finishers in Group E, which is made up of Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica.
Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd put Canada on the scoreboard with an own goal, the first of this World Cup, by accidentally flicking a cross by Sam Adekugbe past his own goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in the 40th minute.
Canada, who are exiting their first World Cup since 1986 without a win, automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.
Man of the match: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Substitutions:
Canada
-
Atiba Hutchinson replaces Mark-Anthony Kaye 60 mins
- Ismael Kone replaces Sam Adekugbe 60 mins
- Jonathan David replaces Cyle Larin 60 mins
- Richie Laryea replaces Jonathan Osorio 65 mins
- David Wotherspoon replaces Junior Hoilett 76 mins
Morocco
- Zakaria Aboukhlal replaces Sofiane Boufal 65 mins
- Selim Amallah replaces Abdelhamid Sabiri 65 mins
- Abderazak Hamdallah replaces Hakim Ziyech 76 mins
- Jawad El Yamiq replaces Azzedine Ounahi 76 mins
- Yahya Jabrane replaces Achraf Hakimi 76 mins
Yellow cards:
Canada – Junior Hoilett, Jonathan Osorio, Sam Adekugbe, Steven Vitoria
Referee: Rafael Claus (Brazil)
