Sports
Morocco fight back twice to beat Haiti 4-2, reach World Cup last 32
Morocco scored twice in the closing stages to secure a dramatic 4-2 victory over Haiti and deny the Caribbean side a historic first point at the FIFA World Cup.
Late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine completed a hard-fought comeback after Haiti twice took the lead in an entertaining Group C encounter in Atlanta.
Haiti, already eliminated from the tournament following defeats to Scotland and Brazil, stunned the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists in the 10th minute when a flicked effort by Lenny Joseph deflected off Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net for an own goal.
Morocco responded through Achraf Hakimi in the 39th minute, with the full-back capitalising after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to properly deal with a shot from Brahim Diaz.
Haiti restored their advantage just before halftime when striker Wilson Isidor produced a spectacular long-range strike from 25 yards that flew into the top corner, sending their supporters into celebration.
However, Morocco levelled again in first-half stoppage time as Ismael Saibari finished off a well-worked move for his third goal of the tournament.
Despite a series of impressive saves from Placide, Morocco eventually found a breakthrough in the 78th minute when substitute Rahimi’s effort took a deflection off defender Ricardo Ade and found its way into the net.
Yassine sealed the victory in the 89th minute, turning home from close range after Rahimi managed to keep the ball in play, a decision later confirmed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The victory ensured Morocco progressed to the Round of 32, although Brazil’s comfortable win over Scotland meant the North Africans finished second in Group C.
For Haiti, the defeat ended a spirited World Cup campaign. While they failed to earn a point, they doubled their goals tally in World Cup history and pushed one of Africa’s strongest teams to the limit in a memorable performance.
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