Morocco beats host Canada 3-0 to qualify for World Cup quarter-finals

Morocco knocked out co-hosts Canada with a commanding 3-0 victory in Houston, becoming the team that ended the hosts’ historic FIFA World Cup campaign.

The North Africans, who struggled to find their rhythm in a tense first half, took control after the break through Azzedine Ounahi.

Ounahi opened the scoring five minutes into the second half, calmly sweeping home Achraf Hakimi’s cut-back from a well-worked free-kick after the Canadian defence failed to close him down.

The Girona midfielder doubled Morocco’s advantage in the 82nd minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack to put the result beyond doubt.

Substitute Soufiane Rahimi completed the rout in stoppage time, sliding his effort beneath goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau after earlier striking the crossbar with a looping header.

Canada had begun brightly and looked capable of taking an early lead, with both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi denied in one-on-one situations by Moroccan goalkeeper Bono inside the opening 11 minutes.

The match was fiercely contested, with English referee Michael Oliver issuing seven yellow cards during a heated encounter.

Despite Canada’s energetic start, Morocco grew into the contest and ultimately produced a clinical second-half display to secure their place in the Round of 16.

The victory moves Morocco to within one win of matching their historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

For Canada, the defeat brings an end to their most successful men’s World Cup campaign, having recorded their first-ever World Cup point, victory, qualification from the group stage and knockout-round appearance before bowing out.

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