07/04/26 02:14:00
Printable Page
07/04 14:12 CDT Morocco beats World Cup co-host Canada 3-0 and advances to the
quarterfinals
Morocco beats World Cup co-host Canada 3-0 and advances to the quarterfinals
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over
Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first
African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.
It's Morocco's second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming
the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.
Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from
Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box
to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.
Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass
from Brahim Daz in the 82nd minute.
Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time.
Morocco advances to face the winner of Saturday's Paraguay-France match on
Thursday at Boston Stadium.
The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its
first-ever knockout round with a 1-0 victory over South Africa to reach
Saturday's match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third
time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in
hockey than the pitch.
Morocco, which is ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands
in a penalty shootout to reach the round of 16 and send the country to its
earliest World Cup exit.
Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick
from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Just after that Tajon Buchanan's shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a
diving save from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to
Moroccan parents, had three saves to help Morocco to the win.
This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in
the group stage in a tournament in which Morocco finished fourth.
It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both
teams received four.
Hakimi and Canada's Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute.
Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor
scuffle ensued.
Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
|
