Ounahi Ends the Canadian Dream: Atlas Lions Rout Co-Hosts 3-0 to Reach the Quarter-Finals
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and Soufiane Rahimi sealed it in stoppage time as Morocco eliminated co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston — ending one of the great underdog stories of this World Cup.
⚽ Play today's FootWord while you read — freeCanada came into this match on the back of the most emotionally charged night in their footballing history — Stephen Eustáquio's stoppage-time goal had sent them into the Round of 16 for the first time ever. The crowd of 68,777 in Houston roared them forward, and the co-hosts spent the first 45 minutes as the better side, pressing high and making Morocco uncomfortable. The first half ended goalless and it felt like anyone's tie.
The second half was different. Five minutes after the restart, Achraf Hakimi rolled a low free-kick to Azzedine Ounahi, unmarked at the edge of the box, who swept it first time into the corner. The goal punctured Canada's momentum entirely. Morocco — always more dangerous on the counter — began exploiting the space behind a backline that had to push higher and higher in search of an equaliser.
Ounahi struck again in the 82nd minute, a composed right-footed first-time finish from a counter-attack Canada had no answer for. Then Brahim Díaz, who had been orchestrating Morocco's play throughout, slid in Soufiane Rahimi in stoppage time to complete the 3-0 scoreline. Díaz's assist was his fourth of the tournament — a new record for most assists by an African player at a single World Cup.
Canada exit as co-hosts, but not as a footnote. They became the first Canadian men's side in history to reach the World Cup knockout rounds and nearly made the quarter-finals against one of the continent's finest teams. Morocco are through to meet France next — for the second World Cup running — and Ounahi is now among the most dangerous forwards left in the tournament. The Atlas Lions are not done making history.
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