Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in Houston on Saturday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, making Canada the first co-host to exit the tournament.
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice after halftime for Morocco, who will face France or Paraguay in the quarter-finals. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi added the third goal in stoppage time.
Canada started brightly at Houston Stadium and created the better first-half chances. Tani Oluwaseyi forced Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into a close-range save after 10 minutes.
Alistair Johnston also missed a free header from Canada’s fourth corner as Jesse Marsch’s side pushed Morocco back. Morocco lost Ismael Saibari to injury after 20 minutes, with Rahimi replacing him.
The first half produced more cards than shots. Referee Michael Oliver booked six players, including Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Canada defender Richie Laryea, after a brief shoving incident.
Morocco improved after the restart. Hakimi sent a low free-kick to Ounahi outside the box in the 50th minute, and the midfielder swept a first-time finish past Maxime Crepeau.
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Canada chased an equaliser, but Morocco struck again on the break in the 82nd minute. Ounahi arrived unmarked and scored with another right-footed first-time finish.
Rahimi completed the win in the 98th minute as Morocco moved one step closer to repeating their 2022 run, when they reached the World Cup semi-finals.
