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FIFA World Cup - Group F
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World Cup 2022: Canada 1-2 Morocco: Ziyech and En-Nesyri score

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

Morocco edged past Canada to top Group F and reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 36 years.

The Atlas Lions, whose previous trip to the last 16 came in 1986, finished above 2018 finalists Croatia, while Belgium - ranked second in the world - are out after finishing third in the group.

A tough test awaits in the next round as they come up against 2010 champions Spain on Tuesday (15:00 GMT).

Morocco went ahead after just four minutes courtesy of a goalkeeping howler from Milan Borjan.

The Canada keeper sprinted out of his goal but passed the ball straight to Hakim Ziyech, who lofted a cool finish into an open net from 30 yards.

The north African side doubled their advantage through Youssef En-Nesyri's well-taken goal as he controlled Achraf Hakimi's superb pass before firing in.

But sloppy defending gave Canada a route back into the game when West Ham's Nayef Aguerd stuck a boot out to divert the ball into his own net - the 100th goal scored at this World Cup.

Knowing if they avoided defeat they would go through, Morocco were happy to sit back and soak up pressure in the second period.

But Atiba Hutchinson came close with a header that rattled the crossbar and dropped down onto the line as Canada's campaign ended without a point.

Morocco march on

Morocco didn't win a game at the last World Cup in Russia but have turned on the style this time, becoming the second African team after Senegal to make it through.

Cameroon play Brazil (19:00 GMT) and Ghana face a grudge match against Uruguay in the final round of group fixtures on Friday to determine whether they can make it a total of four from the continent.

Morocco manager Walid Regragui has a team which is full of players with big game experience.

Chelsea's Ziyech, who has been off the boil for his club, has found form for his country and grabbed the opener, which was gifted to him by Borjan.

Hakimi and En-Nesyri, a regular scorer in the Champions League, combined for the second as the Sevilla player latched on to the Paris St-Germain full-back's pin-point pass before smashing in.

He could have had a second but a stunning volley was ruled out for offside.

Before the game, Morocco had kept a clean sheet in six matches, five of them under Regragui, but that record went when Aguerd poked into his own net before the break.

Canada probed for a way back in the second half and although Hutchinson came close with a header which hit the woodwork, they failed to produce a shot on target in the match.

Star man Alphonso Davies stabbed a chance wide, meaning his side have now lost all six of their World Cup games, a feat only achieved previously El Salvador.

Player of the match

ZiyechHakim Ziyech

with an average of 8.26

Canada

  1. Squad number24Player nameWotherspoon
    Average rating

    6.24

  2. Squad number19Player nameDavies
    Average rating

    6.19

  3. Squad number22Player nameLaryea
    Average rating

    6.05

  4. Squad number13Player nameHutchinson
    Average rating

    5.85

  5. Squad number11Player nameBuchanan
    Average rating

    5.82

  6. Squad number20Player nameDavid
    Average rating

    5.76

  7. Squad number15Player nameKoné
    Average rating

    5.74

  8. Squad number2Player nameJohnston
    Average rating

    5.50

  9. Squad number4Player nameMiller
    Average rating

    5.43

  10. Squad number21Player nameOsorio
    Average rating

    5.40

  11. Squad number10Player nameHoilett
    Average rating

    5.39

  12. Squad number5Player nameVitória
    Average rating

    5.33

  13. Squad number14Player nameKaye
    Average rating

    5.30

  14. Squad number3Player nameAdekugbe
    Average rating

    5.26

  15. Squad number17Player nameLarin
    Average rating

    5.24

  16. Squad number18Player nameBorjan
    Average rating

    4.53

Morocco

  1. Squad number7Player nameZiyech
    Average rating

    8.26

  2. Squad number19Player nameEn-Nesyri
    Average rating

    8.16

  3. Squad number5Player nameAguerd
    Average rating

    8.08

  4. Squad number11Player nameSabiri
    Average rating

    8.03

  5. Squad number1Player nameBono
    Average rating

    8.03

  6. Squad number2Player nameHakimi
    Average rating

    8.00

  7. Squad number6Player nameSaïss
    Average rating

    7.97

  8. Squad number8Player nameOunahi
    Average rating

    7.96

  9. Squad number17Player nameBoufal
    Average rating

    7.89

  10. Squad number3Player nameMazraoui
    Average rating

    7.87

  11. Squad number14Player nameAboukhlal
    Average rating

    7.83

  12. Squad number15Player nameAmallah
    Average rating

    7.79

  13. Squad number9Player nameHamdallah
    Average rating

    7.73

  14. Squad number4Player nameS Amrabat
    Average rating

    7.72

  15. Squad number18Player nameEl Yamiq
    Average rating

    7.52

  16. Squad number26Player nameJabrane
    Average rating

    7.26

Line-ups

Canada

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 18Borjan
  • 2Johnston
  • 5VitóriaBooked at 84mins
  • 4Miller
  • 3AdekugbeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forKonéat 61'minutes
  • 19Davies
  • 21OsorioBooked at 26minsSubstituted forLaryeaat 65'minutes
  • 14KayeSubstituted forHutchinsonat 60'minutes
  • 11Buchanan
  • 10HoilettBooked at 7minsSubstituted forWotherspoonat 76'minutes
  • 17LarinSubstituted forDavidat 60'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1St. Clair
  • 6Piette
  • 8Fraser
  • 9Cavallini
  • 12Ugbo
  • 13Hutchinson
  • 15Koné
  • 16Pantemis
  • 20David
  • 22Laryea
  • 23Millar
  • 24Wotherspoon
  • 25Cornelius
  • 26Waterman

Morocco

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Bono
  • 2HakimiSubstituted forJabraneat 85'minutes
  • 5Aguerd
  • 6Saïss
  • 3Mazraoui
  • 8OunahiSubstituted forEl Yamiqat 77'minutes
  • 4S Amrabat
  • 11SabiriSubstituted forAmallahat 65'minutes
  • 7ZiyechSubstituted forHamdallahat 76'minutes
  • 19En-Nesyri
  • 17BoufalSubstituted forAboukhlalat 65'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Hamdallah
  • 10Zaroury
  • 12Mohamedi
  • 13Chair
  • 14Aboukhlal
  • 15Amallah
  • 16Ezzalzouli
  • 18El Yamiq
  • 20Dari
  • 21Cheddira
  • 22Tagnaouti
  • 23El Khannouss
  • 24Benoun
  • 25Attiat-Allah
  • 26Jabrane
Referee:
Raphael Claus
Attendance:
43,102

Match Stats

Home TeamCanadaAway TeamMorocco
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home5
Away6
Shots on Target
Home0
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away2
Fouls
Home14
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Canada 1, Morocco 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Canada 1, Morocco 2.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Canada. Milan Borjan tries a through ball, but Richie Laryea is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Canada. Conceded by Youssef En-Nesyri.

  5. Post update

    Jonathan David (Canada) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco).

  7. Post update

    Ismaël Koné (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco).

  9. Post update

    Foul by Tajon Buchanan (Canada).

  10. Post update

    Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Atiba Hutchinson (Canada) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco).

  13. Post update

    Richie Laryea (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Zakaria Aboukhlal (Morocco).

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Morocco. Yahya Jabrane replaces Achraf Hakimi.

  16. Booking

    Steven Vitória (Canada) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Steven Vitória (Canada).

  18. Post update

    Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Tajon Buchanan (Canada).

  20. Post update

    Jawad El Yamiq (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Netherlands32105147
2Senegal32015416
3Ecuador31114314
4Qatar300317-60

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1England32109277
2USA31202115
3Iran310247-33
4Wales301216-51

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Argentina32015236
2Poland31112204
3Mexico311123-14
4Saudi Arabia310235-23

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France32016336
2Australia320134-16
3Tunisia31111104
4Denmark301213-21

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Japan32014316
2Spain31119364
3Germany31116514
4Costa Rica3102311-83

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Morocco32104137
2Croatia31204135
3Belgium311112-14
4Canada300327-50

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Brazil22003036
2Switzerland21011103
3Cameroon201134-11
4Serbia201135-21

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Portugal22005236
2Ghana21015503
3South Korea201123-11
4Uruguay201102-21
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