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Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
Canada Overpowered by Morocco in World Cup
By Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Houston, Texas, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals and ending Canada’s magical run.
Jesse Marsch made three changes to his lineup from the South Africa match with Luc de Fougerolles, Niko Sigur, and Ali Ahmed coming into the starting eleven. The silent, stern faces in the tunnel as the players waited to march out spoke volumes about the magnitude of this game.
Canada couldn’t wait to get started, inching into opponent territory prematurely, prompting the kickoff to be retaken. Marsch’s press was cautious, not the all out action, more a midblock, being selective on when to apply that pressure as Morocco stroked the ball around the back.
Pressure from Alistair Johnston led to a turnover, Stephen Eustáquio and Richie Laryea turned it into a corner, and when Ahmed put the second phase back in de Fougerolles knocked it down into the path of Jonathan David, but he was forced wide, settling for another corner.
The good start for Canada would continue with Oluwaseyi settling and executing a lovely turn on a ball from Ahmed after he intercepted a pass, but his left-footed shot was denied by Montreal-born Yassine Bounou’s leg. Jonathan David was an option inside, but Oluwaseyi deserved a chance to see out that chance.
Selective pressure was creating half-chances and corner kicks, but Canada were not able to convert those opportunities. Morocco were not happy with the first 20 minutes, increasing their physicality in response, late tackles flying in. There were less so when Ismael Saibari was forced off in the 22nd minute with an apparent hamstring concern.
The hydration break provided a chance for them to change their fortunes. A first shot from Morocco came in the 28th minute when a Bombito turnover caused some both, substitute Soufiane Rahimi’s shot from range proved an easy track for Maxime Crépeau.
Morocco continued to be surprisingly sloppy on the ball, working out the back, perhaps an indication of some legs and minds following their Round of 32 exertions against Netherlands in Mexico.
It was a very unBritish refereeing performance, calling every little foul, limiting the flow of the game. Not necessarily a bad thing for Canada, but frustrating all the same. It risked boiling over in the 39th minute when Achraf Hakimi shoved Laryea from behind, de Fougerolles and soon enough Laryea himself responded, prompting some shoving. The solution of bookings to both Laryea and Hakimi seemed unfair, if predictable.
Hakimi knew what he was doing, trying to inspire his team and get under Canada’s skin. More yellow cards would follow: Jonathan David and Azzedine Ounahi, joining Redouane Halhal who was booked earlier. Bilal El Khannouss would join them before the break.
It was a very good first half for Canada. The worry at half-time, for the negative sort, was that Canada would regret not turning supremacy on the field into a lead on the scoreboard.
As the second half began, the Moroccan bench looked concerned. Their side looked to increase the pace of the play and looked better immediately. At least until Ahmed intercepted another ball and Oluwaseyi and David nearly combined to create a chance.
De Fougerolles would be added to the list of players on a yellow, cleaning out Rahimi, but it was the free kick that followed that proved more costly: Hakimi rolled the ball across the top of the box from the right and Ounahi stroked a low right-footer into the bottom corner to give the Moroccans a lead against the run of play.
The pace of the game took on a new, increased ferocity. Canada were now the ones sloppy in possession, end-to-end stuff as the teams traded flourishes. Both sides went to the bench around the hour mark.
Canada were now second to every ball, Morocco alternating lightning quick swarm attacks with killing time by passing the ball around the back, waiting for the opening to come. Canada were lulled and cut open, Bombito appeared to bring Rahimi down, but the overworked whistle stayed silent.
The addition of Larin brought some impetus, he was booked within minutes for the slightest of touches on Bounou as he tried to get a piece of a bouncing ball.
As the second hydration break paused play, Canada were searching for answers. They needed a goal. Morocco were doing everything they could to suck the life out of the match.
A long Johnston throw, a Sigur ball into the box lead to some panic, but it was a touch from Eustáquio around Sofyan Amrabat that won a free kick inside the arc – for a moment it looked a penalty, but it was outside the box. Jonathan David would clip his attempt well over the bar.
Marsch would go to his bench again, bringing on Jacob Shaffelburg and Promise David, Buchanan would draw a save from Bounou with a bouncing shot from range. But Morocco would counter with Brahim Díaz bursting up the right before cutting inside to tee up Ounahi for his second, a blast into the top corner for a second, back-breaking goal.
With Canada pressing forward, Rahimi guided a header off the bar as Morocco broke the other way. Jonathan Osorio and Jayden Nelson would be Marsch’s last two throws of the dice; Alphonso Davies was not even warming up – his actual availability again cloudy.
Even with Crépeau twice throwing himself into the mix on set-pieces, the Canadians could not find a response and Morocco would add a third in the 98th minute when Rahimi putting in another on the counter.
In the end it came down to one simple fact: Morocco took their chances when they came, Canada did not. One team goes on, the other goes home.
Morocco will face the winner of Paraguay-France on July 9 at Boston (Gillette) Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
