Canada 1-2 Morocco: Morocco snatch Group F top spot and go into round of 16!

Game is over and the final score is Canada 1-2 Morocco. Here is the match report.

Match Report

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 against the team that finishes second in Group E, which could potentially be Spain or Germany.

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.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' GOAL! Canada 0-1 Morocco (Ziyech)

7' Yellow Card! Junior Hoilett booked

22' GOAL! Canada 0-2 Morocco (En-Nesyri)

39' OWN GOAL! Canada 1-2 Morocco (Aguerd)

47' OFFSIDE! Morocco’s goal disallowed

71' OFF THE POST!

Line-ups

Canada XI: Junior Hoilett, Steven Vitória, Borjan, Jonathan Osorio, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Sam Adekugbe, Cyle Larin, Alphonso Davies, Kamal Miller, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston

Subs: Atiba Hutchinson, David Wotherspoon, Samuel Piette, Lucas Cavallini, Derek Cornelius, James Pantemis, Iké Ugbo, Liam Fraser, Richie Laryea, Joel Waterman, Dayne St. Clair, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Ismaël Koné

Morocco XI: Bounou, Saiss, Boufal, Ziyech, Amrabat, Mazraoui, Aguerd, Hakimi, A.Sabiri, En-Nesyri, Azzedine Ounahi

Subs: Munir, Abderrazak Hamdallah, A. Tagnaouti, Badr Benoun, Selim Amallah, Ilias Chair, El Yamiq, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Anass Zaroury, Yahya Jabrane, Achraf Dari, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Walid Cheddira, Ez Abde, Bilal El Khannouss