Morocco end Canada run to reach World Cup quarter-finals

HOUSTON: Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 on Saturday to book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, ending what had been a landmark run for the North American side.

The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists struck all three goals after the break, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring in the 50th and 82nd minutes before substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a third in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Morocco will next play in Boston on June 9 against the winners of the France-Paraguay match.

Canada, playing in the round of 16 for the first time after advancing beyond the group stage and then winning a knockout game for the first time, started brightly in front of a crowd of 68,777 in Houston. Jesse Marsch's team pressed early and created the better openings in the first half, despite being clear underdogs against a side ranked sixth in the Fifa standings, with Canada 30th.

Within the opening stages, Yassine Bounou was called into action more than once for Morocco. He made a close-range save from Jonathan David, dealt with a Stephen Eustaquio corner and then produced a key stop with an outstretched leg after Tani Oluwaseyi turned sharply at the top of the box and fired low. By the hydration break, Canada had taken all four shots in the match, with two on target. Defender Alistair Johnston also failed to capitalise on a free header from one of Canada's early corners.

Morocco improve after quiet first half

The opening half featured little goal-mouth action and repeated fouls. There was a heated moment shortly before the interval when Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Canada's Richie Laryea were involved in a brief shoving incident, with both shown yellow cards. Referee Michael Oliver booked multiple players in a fractious first half. One report said six players were cautioned before the break, four of them from Morocco, while another said there were four yellow cards each overall in the match. Canada committed 24 fouls to Morocco's 14.

Morocco also suffered an injury setback in the 20th minute according to one report, or the 22nd minute according to another, when Ismael Saibari was forced off and replaced by Rahimi. The Bayern Munich-bound attacking midfielder had scored three times in the tournament, including in all three group matches.

After the restart, Morocco looked much sharper. Hakimi worked a low free-kick to Ounahi outside the box and the midfielder hit a first-time shot into the right corner in the 50th minute. Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau's view was blocked by two defenders and the ball also passed through Rahimi's legs on its way in. Geo described it as Morocco's second shot of the game and said Canada had been caught a step behind after a free-kick awarded following a foul by Luc de Fougerolles on Rahimi.

Canada pressure fails to bring response

Canada continued to push for a way back into the match. In the 77th minute, David sent a free-kick from outside the area over the bar, and a minute later Tajon Buchanan forced a diving save from Bounou at the left post with a long-range effort.

That pressure did not produce a goal, and Morocco doubled their lead on the break in the 82nd minute. Ounahi finished after receiving a layoff from Brahim Diaz, while Dawn described the goal as another first-time right-footed finish with Ounahi arriving in the right place. Rahimi then added the third goal with the last kick of the game, sealing Morocco's place in the last eight for the second World Cup in a row.

The result also ended Canada's bid to keep all three tournament co-hosts alive. Dawn described Canada as the first of the hosts to go out, after a campaign in which they had already made national football history by winning a World Cup match and then a knockout match for the first time.