By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Canada became the first of the co-hosts to be eliminated from the World Cup after Morocco secured a convincing 3-0 victory on Saturday in Houston to book a place in the quarter-finals.
The 2022 semi-finalists will now face either tournament favourites France or Paraguay as the competition moves into its decisive stages in North America.
Following a first half marked more by cautions than clear chances, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute.
Canada, appearing in the biggest match in their football history, pressed for an equaliser, but Ounahi struck again in the 82nd minute to seal the win and end Jesse Marsch’s side’s resistance.
Substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a third deep into stoppage time.
It was tough on Canada, who were the better side in the opening period as they sought to make more history. They came into the contest in uncharted territory, having won a World Cup match and then a knockout game for the first time to reach the last 16. They were clear underdogs against a Morocco side ranked sixth in the world.
Yet they looked the more confident at the start, with Tani Oluwaseyi turning sharply in the box and forcing a save from Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after 10 minutes. From one of several first-half corners, defender Alistair Johnston failed to make the most of a free header, rattling Morocco.
After 20 minutes, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side suffered an injury blow when Bayern Munich-bound Ismael Saibari who had scored three times at the tournament was replaced by Rahimi.
There was a flashpoint shortly before half-time when Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea had a brief shoving match, with both shown yellow cards in a niggly first half low on clear-cut chances.
Morocco, who beat Canada in the group phase at the 2022 World Cup, came out for the second period transformed. Five minutes after the restart, Hakimi delivered a low free-kick to an unmarked Ounahi outside the box, who swept it in first time through a crowd of players.
Ounahi struck again in the 82nd minute, finishing from the middle of the box after being set up by Brahim Díaz, before Rahimi also assisted by Díaz completed the scoring deep into stoppage time.
Morocco advance to face the winner of the Paraguay-France quarter-final on Thursday.
AFP