A second-half brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a third from Soufiane Rahimi saw Morocco become the first nation to make the quarterfinals of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.
After weathering a Canadian storm in the first half, the north African side took the lead in the 50th minute with a well-worked free kick, as Achraf Hakimi opted against sending in a cross and instead pulled the ball to Ounahi, who swept it home from the edge of the box.
With Canada pushing for an equalizer, Ounahi put the game beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when Morocco broke on the counter and Brahim Díaz laid the ball back into his path, the midfielder crashing his effort home high into the net.
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There was still time for Rahimi to add the icing on the cake, sliding the ball home in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give Morocco a third goal.
Morocco had goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to thank for getting them to that stage unscathed, most notably when he denied Tani Oluwaseyi after the Canada forward turned smartly in the box and drove a left-foot effort at goal.
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But despite all their intent in the first half, Canada’s lack of cutting edge saw them become the first of the three host nations to go out.
