Morocco is marching on in the World Cup, having decisively beaten Canada 3-0 in the first round of the knockout stages on Saturday. The first half was a bit of a stalemate, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. But right after the break, Azzedine Ounahi took center stage. In the 50th minute, he received a free kick from Achraf Hakimi, launched a powerful right-footed shot through a crowded box, and found the back of the net to put Morocco ahead 1-0.
And it didn’t stop there! Ounahi doubled his tally in the 82nd minute, finishing beautifully from the middle of the box after a slick pass from Brahim Díaz. As if that wasn’t enough, Soufiane Rahimi added a cherry on top with a stunning third goal just before the final whistle, sealing the deal for Morocco. Can you believe it? This is Morocco’s second consecutive trip to the quarterfinals, following their historic run last year when they became the first African team to reach the semifinals.
Ranked sixth in the FIFA standings, Morocco had previously edged past the Netherlands in a nail-biting penalty shootout to reach this round. On the other hand, Canada, despite the loss, had a commendable journey. They had a couple of late chances to score, with Jonathan David coming close with a free kick in the 78th minute, but his shot soared over the crossbar. The defeat marks the end of a historic campaign for Canada, which made it past the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history, defeating South Africa 1-0 in their earlier match. Remember, this is just their third World Cup appearance, and boy, did they enchant a nation that usually has its eyes glued to hockey instead of soccer!
Now, Morocco will be looking to continue their dream run as they prepare to face the winner of the Paraguay vs. France match on Thursday at the iconic Boston Stadium. What a match that promises to be!
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber