Morocco thrash hosts Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Morocco defeated co-hosts Canada in style by defeating them 3-0 at the Houston stadium, being the team to end the tournament for the home team in FIFA World Cup.

North Africans, who were having a tough time finding their rhythm in a nervous first-half performance, took control of the match in the second half thanks to Azzedine Ounahi.

Ounahi gave the Moroccans the lead in the fifth minute of the second half, coolly converting Hakimi’s pass from a set-piece move as the Canadians could not mark him properly.

The Girona midfielder doubled the lead in the 82nd minute, completing a quick counterattack that ensured there would be no doubt about the match anymore.

Rahimi made sure that Morocco won the match convincingly with the goal he scored during injury time, slotting in after hitting the crossbar with a powerful header.

Canada started strongly but had opportunities to go ahead very early, when both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi saw Bono denying them in 11th minute.

The match was highly competitive, and seven yellow cards were handed out by the English referee Michael Oliver in the heat of the battle.

In spite of Canada’s lively beginning, Morocco gained momentum and eventually put up a strong second-half performance to earn their place in the Round of 16.

The win means that Morocco is just one victory away from equalling their feat in reaching the semi-finals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This loss ends the most successful World Cup campaign for Canada, where they have made history by winning their first ever point, win, group stage advancement and knockout stage participation in the competition.