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 on Thursday, 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.