Morocco cruise past Canada to make World Cup last 16 for first time since 1986

Atlas Lions impress to top Group F ahead of Croatia

Morocco coach Walid Regragui celebrates with the team after the 2-1 Group F win against Canada at Al Thumama Stadium on December 1, 2022 in Doha. Getty

Morocco players celebrate after the team's qualification to the knockout stages. Getty

Morocco players celebrate after the match. Getty

Hakim Ziyech celebrates scoring Morocco's first goal. AFP

Hakim Ziyech celebrates scoring Morocco's first goal. AFP

Hakim Ziyech celebrates with teammates after scoring. EPA

Ziyech is congratulated by teammates. AFP

Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates after scoring the second goal. AFP

Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates with Azzedine Ounahi. AFP

Canada's Alphonso Davies and Cyle Larin celebrate after Morocco's Nayef Aguerd scores an own goal to reduce the deficit. AP

Canada's Sam Adekugbe and Steven Vitoria celebrate the own goal scored by Morocco's Nayef Aguerd. Reuters

Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan and his team applaud their fans after elimination. AP

Morocco powered into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years with an impressive 2-1 victory over eliminated Canada on Thursday.

Goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri ensured the North Africans finished top of Group F ahead of 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia and sparked wild celebrations among their fans.

The Atlas Lions, who last reached the knockout stages of the World Cup in 1986, put themselves firmly on course for the second round after upsetting Belgium 2-0 on Sunday, a result that left them needing only a point against Canada on Thursday to be sure of advancing.

Achieving that objective never looked in doubt after they grabbed the lead after only four minutes in front of 43,102 fans at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Canada captain and goalkeeper Milan Borjan raced off his line to clear an underhit backpass from Steven Vitoria, but could only watch in horror as the ball fell to Ziyech.

The Chelsea star seized the opportunity ruthlessly, coolly lifting a finish over the stranded Borjan into the empty net.

That early setback winded Canada, who struggled to gain any sort of a foothold against a rampant Morocco, who were soon 2-0 up.

Right-back Achraf Hakimi's long ball caught the Canadian defence napping and En-Nesyri darted in behind before smashing home a finish at the near post to beat Borjan.

Canada pulled a goal back on a rare foray forward five minutes from half-time when defender Sam Adekugbe skipped clear down the left and rifled in a low cross.

Defender Nayef Aguerd stuck a leg out and the ball deflected into the net past Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Morocco thought they had restored their two-goal cushion in first-half stoppage time when En-Nesyri lashed home eight yards out only for the effort to be deemed offside.

Canada started the second half brightly, with Alphonso Davies jabbing a shot just wide after a promising attack.

But Morocco dropped deeper and Canada lacked the inventiveness to seriously threaten.

Their best chance of drawing level came from a set piece on 71 minutes, when substitute Atiba Hutchinson's header from a corner crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the goal-line.

Full-back Alistair Johnston failed to control the rebound and Morocco's lead remained intact.

Canada captain Borjan almost got caught out again in another risky advance in injury time, but Davies was on hand to snuff out the danger before Morocco's raucous fans erupted in celebration at the whistle.