Luay Ahmed
Morocco started the match on the front foot and were instantly rewarded with a goal. A poor back pass to the Canadian goalkeeper Borjan forced him to take a poor touch outside of his penalty area. The touch landed at the feet of Hakim Ziyech who lobbed the ball over Borjan who was out of his goal, to give Morocco the lead with just four minutes on the clock.
In the 14th minute, Adekugbe dribbled past his Moroccan marker in midfield, and played an enticing cross to the far post which was inches away from connecting with the outstretched foot of Buchanan at the far post.
Five minutes later, Morocco struck again. Achraf Hakimi received the ball in the right back position, and played an inch perfect long ball around the Canadian defense which was perfectly controlled by En-Nesyri who was racing through on goal. With his second touch, the Moroccan striker struck a powerful low effort past Borjan’s near post to double his nation’s lead.
In the 39th minute, Canada struck back against the run of play, by way of an own goal courtesy of Aguerd. Adekugbe found space on the left wing and fizzed in a cross, which was steered into the net by Aguerd’s outstretched foot.
Morocco thought they had responded perfectly, when En-Nesyri volleyed the ball into the back of the net following a Moroccan free kick, but the referee ruled the goal out and sent the teams into the break with Morocco leading 2-1.
The first twenty minutes of the second half passed mostly without event. Canada looked a much stronger unit, and did not allow Morocco chances to get in behind their back line.
In the 71st minute, Canada had their best opportunity of the match when a corner kick found the head of Hutchinson, who cannoned a header off the crossbar and onto the goal line. The goal decision system ruled that the ball did not cross the line. Johnston had the opportunity to head in the rebound, but could not get over the ball – and his resulting header sailed over the bar.
The final five minutes of the match saw the Canadian goalkeeper Borjan join his team mates in the Moroccan penalty area for a corner. The resulting clearance lead to a Moroccan breakaway towards an open Canadian goal, but Alphonso Davies ran back to recover the ball for his side.
As the full time whistle blew, Moroccan players jubilantly ran onto the field to celebrate their nation qualifying to the round of 16 atop of their group.