Morocco 2-1 Canada; Moroccans Storm into FIFA RO16 First Time in 36 Years
Morocco registered spectacular 2-1 victory in do-or-die match against the already eliminated Canada to secure their position in the round of 16 of the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup being played in Qatar.
The Moroccan team has been considered dark horses in the tournament since no one viewed them as a threat, but game after game, they proved themselves dangerous. They made history after they sealed a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Morocco creates history in FIFA 2022
Doing so not just in Group, but in Group F, where they haggled up with the runners-up of the last FIFA World Cup, Croatia, and the third-ranked team of the previous World Cup, Belgium. The passionate Moroccans needed either a win or a draw to qualify.
The match was very action-packed, with the first goal coming in the first 4th minute of the game from Hakim Ziyech after a grave miss-pass from the Canadian goalkeeper and their defence. Hakim rightly took advantage of the shabby Canadian defence and netted the ball, scoring his first World Cup goal ever, from over the head of the goalkeeper as he tried to outrun the ball into the goalpost.
Morocco ensures Belgium’s departure from WC
The decisive goal for Morocco was scored not too long after in the first half by Youssef En-Nesyri, who remained a looming danger throughout the match, in the 23rd minute with yet another incredible goal which found the weak spot in the Canadian defence and pierced through it.
Canada did not wholly give up on the match even though it was a ‘formality’ game since they had already been eliminated from the tournament, yet they tried to score. Their attempts came to fruition when the Canadian attacker kicked the ball into the goalpost, and the Moroccan goalkeeper, Nayef Aguerd, in an effort to save the ball, ended up making an own goal in favour of the Canadians.
Whatever might be the case, the facts on the table remain that Morocco has proceeded to the last 16 as table-toppers and the ‘Golden Generation’ bearer; Belgium has been kicked out of the World Cup in the Group stages itself after having a 0-0 draw against the last time runners-up, Croatia, who also progress to the knockouts as the table runners-up.
