Morocco powered into the final 16 of the World Cup for the primary time in 36 years on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over eradicated Canada. Goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri ensured the North Africans completed high of Group F forward of 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia. Morocco, who final reached the knockout phases of the World Cup in 1986, will face the runners-up from Group E within the final 16, with the identification of their opponents determined later Thursday. Canada’s defeat in the meantime capped a disappointing World Cup for the CONCACAF facet, who depart after dropping all three of their group video games on their long-awaited return to the finals.

Morocco put themselves firmly on the right track for the second spherical after upsetting Belgium 2-0 on Sunday, a outcome that left them needing solely a degree in opposition to Canada on Thursday to make certain of advancing.

Achieving that goal by no means appeared unsure after the Moroccans grabbed the lead after solely 4 minutes in entrance of 43,102 followers on the Al-Thumama Stadium.

Canada captain and goalkeeper Milan Borjan raced off his line to clear an underhit backpass from Steven Vitoria however may solely watch in horror because the ball fell to Morocco’s Ziyech.

The Chelsea star seized the chance ruthlessly, coolly lifting a end over the stranded Borjan into the empty web for 1-0.

That early setback winded Canada, who struggled to achieve any type of a foothold in opposition to a rampant Morocco who have been quickly 2-0 up.

Right-back Achraf Hakimi‘s lengthy ball caught the Canadian defence napping and En-Nesyri darted in behind earlier than smashing residence a end on the close to publish to beat Borjan.

Canada pulled a objective again on a uncommon foray ahead 5 minutes from half-time when defender Sam Adekugbe skipped clear down the left and rifled in a low cross.

Defender Nayef Aguerd caught a leg out and the ball deflected into the online previous Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to make it 2-1.

Morocco thought they’d restored their two-goal cushion in first-half stoppage time when En-Nesyri lashed residence eight yards out just for the trouble to be deemed offside.

Canada began the second half brightly, with Alphonso Davies jabbing a shot simply huge after a promising assault.

But Morocco dropped deeper and Canada lacked the inventiveness to significantly threaten.

Their finest probability of drawing stage got here from a setpiece on 71 minutes, when substitute Atiba Hutchinson‘s header from a nook crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the goal-line.

Full-back Alistair Johnston failed to regulate the rebound and Morocco’s lead remained intact.

Canada captain Borjan virtually received caught out once more in one other dangerous advance in harm time, however Davies was readily available to snuff out the hazard earlier than Morocco’s raucous followers erupted in celebration on the whistle.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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