Kolkata: Morocco defeated Canada 2-1 and earn a spot in the round of 16 for the first time since 1986. Hakim Ziyech took advantage of a sloppy pass to give Morocco the early lead. Morocco needed a win or a draw in their last Group F match to advance.
Top of the group and into the Round of 16! 🙌
What a feeling for Morocco 🇲🇦#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022
The ball was beautifully lobbed over the stranded goalie by midfielder Ziyech, who was being cheered on by a raucous crowd of Moroccan supporters. Steven Vitoria, a centre back, put Borjan in a difficult situation with a poor back pass that required the goalie to outrun Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri to the ball.
Morocco's Selim Amallah was waving a Palestine 🇵🇸 flag on the pitch after the game.
A #mar of staff carrying one too.#fifaworldcup pic.twitter.com/rMIFhv0UNn
— Shamoon Hafez (@ShamoonHafez) December 1, 2022
Throughout the first half, En-Nesyri was a threat. He doubled Morocco’s advantage in the 23rd minute. Hakimi ran onto a long pass from Achraf Hakimi and beat Borjan at the near post. During stoppage time of the first half, En-Nesyri also slammed a volley into the Canadian goal, but the goal was deemed offside.
🏁FULL TIME | 🇨🇦 1-2 🇲🇦
Morocco is qualified for the Round of 16!!!!
Can’t be more proud of our Atlas Lions 🦁👏#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #TeamMorocco #FIFAWorldCup @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/y4YdeC9z03— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) December 1, 2022
Morocco finished first in the group. They will play the second-place finishers in Group E after Croatia and Belgium drew in the other Group F match. In the 40th minute, Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd unintentionally flicked a cross from Sam Adekugbe. The ball went past his own goalie Yassine Bounou to give Canada its first World Cup goal.
