Morocco downs co-host Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup last eight

Morocco advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight tournament, defeating co-host Canada 3-0 in a physical Round of 16 match in Houston.

Azzedine Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box after a free kick. He doubled the lead in the 82nd minute, and Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory with a counter-attack goal in stoppage time. The win eliminates Canada, the first co-host to be knocked out of the tournament.

Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, praised his team's second-half performance, noting they exploited the space left by Canada. "We succeeded in using the space they left in the second half, and that was the key to winning," he said. He also complimented Canada's impressive skill and high level of play.

This victory sets up a potential rematch between Morocco and France, who met in the 2022 World Cup semifinals, with France winning 2-0. Despite the loss, Canada achieved a historic milestone in this tournament, securing their first-ever group stage win and advancing to the knockout stage for the first time.

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We succeeded in using the space they left in the second half, and that was the key to winning.