Canada 1-2 Morocco
FIFA World Cup
Group F
Al Thumama Stadium
Attendance: 43,102
Morocco has qualified as the winner of Group F for the round of 16 of the World Cup. The Lions of the Atlas beat Canada and survived the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1986. Morocco will face the 2nd place team in Group E in the round of 16 (Spain after the chaos in group E).
Morocco, with Noussair Mazraoui, Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat, went for victory and the group win. In the fourth minute, the North Africans took the lead thanks to an error by Milan Borjan. Canada’s goalkeeper reacted to a short back pass from Steven Vitória by going wide of his goal. But failed to kick the ball far away. He played it in front of him and saw Hakim Ziyech pick up the leather. The attacker did not hesitate for a moment and placed the ball over Borjan with great feeling.
Halfway through the first half, Morocco doubled its margin. After a sharp pass from Achraf Hakimi on the right flank, Youssef En-Nesyri emerged from behind the defence, before scoring effectively in the short corner. The already eliminated Canada fortunately did something back in the final phase of the first half. After a cross from the steamed up left back Sam Adekugbe, Nayef Aguerd made an attempt to intercept the ball, but he unconsciously shot into his own goal.
En-Nesyri then thought to make it 1-3, but his goal was disallowed. Presumably because Aguerd was annoyingly offside and obstructed the keeper’s view. In the second half, the number of chances decreased. Alphonso Davies failed in minute 58 to level Canada. Morocco faltered in the final phase. Canada didn’t want to end the tournament with a loss and was very close to a goal as Atiba Hutchinson headed against the underside of the crossbar, but was unable to change the score.
