Morocco finished top of Group F in the 2022 FIFA World Cup after beating Canada 2-1 at the Al Thumama Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri handed the Atlas Lions a spot in the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since 1986.
Canada pulled one back courtesy of an own goal from Nayef Agued who sent a harmless shot into the back of the net in his attempt to clear the ball.
Morocco were quick out of the blocks and took the lead in the fourth minute courtesy of Hakim Ziyech’s loop on backtracking Canada custodian Milan Borjan.
The first decent chance for Canada came in the 13th minute when Cyle Larin found some space inside the Atlas Lions box, but he blazed his shot over from 16-yards out.
Ten minutes later, Morocco extended their lead when Nesyri went past two defenders before firing his shot past Borjan to make it 2-0.
Junior Hoiller looked certain to score when Steven Vitoria played him into space a couple of yards out, but with just the keeper to beat the Reading striker saw the ball taken off his toes by a Moroccan defender.
Canada then grew into confidence and they pulled one back five minutes to end of first stanza when Sam Adakugbe’s shot was deflected into the net by Moroccan defender Aguerd.
The Reds took the game by the scruff of the neck, but similar to the first half their finishing let them down.
Just after the hour mark Tojan Buchanan came close to equalizing for Canada when he let fly from long range, but his stinging effort was deflected just wide of the target.
In the 76th minute, Morocco could have put the result beyond doubt when Zakaria Aboukhlala found himself behind the Canadians defence, but he failed to beat the keeper in a one-on-one.
Canada threw players forward in the final ten minutes of the match, but were unable to find a goal and salvage a draw as Morocco walked away 2-1 winners.
Starting Lineups:
Canada: Milan Borjan; Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Sam Adekugbe (Ismael Kone 60), Jonathan Osorio (Richie Laryea 66), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Atiba Hutchinson 60), Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin (Jonathan David 60), Junior Hoilett (David Wotherspoon 76)
Morocco: Bono; Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Achraf Hakimi (Yahya Jabrane 85), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Selim Amallah 65), Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi (Jawad El Yamiq 77), Sofiane Boufal (Zakaria Aboukhlal 65), Youssef En-Nesyri, Hakim Ziyech (Abderazak Hamdallah 76)
