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Morocco concluded their campaign in Group F with a win against Canada. The Atlas Lions managed an almost perfect first period before giving their opponents the opportunity to come back. This victory offers them the head of group F and eliminates Belgium, who drew against Croatia (0-0)
The Atlas Lions, kings of group F. By beating Canada on the third day (1-2)Morocco took the lead in their pool and won their second round of 16 in history after 1986. Belgium, powerless against Croatia (0-0).
Supported by a singing and boosted red tide, the Atlas Lions do not give in to the pressure and fully enter their match as soon as the whistle blows. Unlike Canada, like Borjan, pressed by En-Nesyri, who panics and makes a hazardous exit before missing his release. Ziyech is on the fallout and bravely tries his luck and his shot goes into the empty goal (4th, 0-1).
Easy Morocco…
The Atlas Lions asphyxiate the Canucks with their pressing. It is necessary to wait for a counter, on a corner badly played by two by the Moroccans, so that the North Americans bring danger to the opposing camp. Larin crosses hard but Buchanan fails to straighten the trajectory of the ball (14th).
En-Nesyri does not miss his chance to make the break. On a long opening from Hakimi, he leaves the Canadian defense on the spot and thrashes a Borjan far from brilliant (20th, 0-2).
Moroccans, very easy, rest on their laurels and pay dearly for their inattention. Sam Adekugbe overflows on the left flank and sends a low center. Nayef is on the trajectory and deviates towards his own goal, surprising Yassine Bounou in passing (40th, 1-2). An own goal which is also the first conceded by the Atlas Lions in the competition.
Morocco believes they will immediately recover thanks to En-Nesyri but the Sevillian goal is disallowed for an offside position by Aguerd. The West Ham defender bothered the Canadian goalkeeper (45th + 3). What to spoil the joy of the attacker who celebrated with the supporters without seeing the referee’s denial.
Then Morocco waits
On returning from the locker room, Canada failed to surprise a wait-and-see Morocco. On a counter, Hoilett crosses, Davies throws himself and beats Aguerd. The ball escapes the frame (58th). Already eliminated, the Canucks play their game with a triple change: Kaye, Adegukbe and Larin are replaced by Hutchinson, Koné and David.
On a corner, Hutchinson precisely wins his duel and catapults his head on the bar of Bounou. The ball bounces off the line. Miller tumbles but fails to fit, well jostled by the Moroccan defense (71st). The referee does not flinch. The Atlas Lions are rounding their backs and that’s enough for victory.
A success in two stages which offers Morocco the first place of its group which will see it face the second of group E (made up of Japan, Spain, Costa Rica and Germany). A just reward for the men of Walid Regragui, serious and diligent since the start of the World Cup, who therefore won the second round of 16 in the history of the Kingdom.
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