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Football World Cup: Morocco after a 2-1 win against Canada in the round of 16

Football World Cup: Morocco after a 2-1 win against Canada in the round of 16

National coach Walid Regragui’s side defeated Canada 2-1 (2-1) at the end of Group F on Thursday and advanced to the round of 16 as group winners ahead of Croatia, who drew 0-0 with Belgium. There, the North Africans will meet the runners-up from Pool E next Tuesday (4:00 p.m.), where Spain will be fighting Japan and Costa Rica will be battling Germany in the evening.

Hakim Ziyech (4′) and Youssef En-Nesyri (23′) made things clear early on in front of 43,102 frantic fans at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium. An own goal by Nayef Aguerd (40th) made the game sharp again. The Moroccans brought the victory over time and thus qualified for the knockout phase at a World Cup for the first time since 1986 – and that with seven points from three games and only one goal. Canada, on the other hand, is going home.

“We are here to make history and qualify for the next round,” Regragui announced ahead of the game. And the coach, who has only been in office since August after internal team disputes, had not spoken too much. Ziyech took advantage of an early blunder by Canadian keeper Milan Borjan, who served the Moroccan under pressure after a weak back pass from defender Steven Vitoria. The Chelsea Legionnaire netted a lob into the empty goal.

The hungry “Atlas lions” continued to move forward and added more. Achraf Hakimi served En-Nesyri with a long ball, the Sevilla striker prevailed against two defenders and made it 2-0 with a dry shot into the near corner. As a result, the Canadians owed a lot, but still reduced the gap. Sam Adekugbe got through on the left and his pass into the box deflected Aguerd into his own goal. It was the first own goal of this World Cup and the 100th goal of the tournament in Qatar.

The Moroccans had the last word in the first half. After a free kick, En-Nesyri scored again to put it 3:1. But after a VAR check, the goal was annulled because Agerd, who was still unlucky, was offside and goalkeeper Borjan restricted the view (45 + 3).

Coach John Herdman’s team intensified their offensive efforts in the second period. Attacks went mainly through Alphonso Davies, while the Moroccans were waiting for a counterattack. Atiba Hutchinson missed the equalizer by just a few centimeters when he beheaded the underside of the bar after a corner kick. The ball landed just behind the goal line, but not in full (72′). When attempting a header, however, Alistair Johnston was fouled rather than compliant, but the whistle of the Brazilian referee Raphael Claus and the VAR remained silent.

The increasing pressure from the North Americans was ultimately unrewarded. The maple leaves are still without a point at a World Cup.

Source: Nachrichten

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