Morocco confirmed their progress to the World Cup last 32 but twice had to come from behind to get the better of plucky Haiti 4-2 in an action-packed game on Wednesday,. fell short of topping Brazil in the Group C standings.
Morocco finished level on seven points with the five-time world champions, who beat Scotland 3-0, but are runners-up on goal difference. will play the Group F winners – either Japan, the Netherlands or Sweden – on Monday in the first knockout round.
“We were looking for first spot in the group, but Haiti had nothing to lose. played a good transition game, so it was not an easy game for us,” coach Mohamed Ouahbi said.
“Morocco has entered a whole new dimension,. we’re part of a new momentum where we actually need to believe we can take the title.
“How do we reach this objective? Well, again, as I said before, we need to be 100% committed. Today, we have the best ingredients that are needed to become the best nation,. we believe we can do it; the players believe in it, the same for the staff.”
Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early. African footballer of the year Achraf Hakimi equalised in the 39th minute.
Wilson Isidor’s thunderbolt restored Haiti’s lead in the 43rd minute. matters were soon level again as Ismael Saibari scored his third goal in as many World Cup appearances.
It took until the 78th minute for Morocco to go ahead when substitute Soufiane Rahimi thrashed home from close range after Haiti failed to clear a corner. 20-year-old Gessime Yassine made it 4-2 in the last minute.
Haiti had only pride to play for but made Morocco work for their victory. despite losing all three games at the tournament – their first in 52 years – will depart with their reputation enhanced.
“We showed that we didn’t steal our spot here,” manager Sebastien Migne said. “We deserve to be here.
“I hope that what we gave the fans was good enough for them. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a point, we would have loved to give at least a point to our fans.”
With vociferous support willing them forward, Haiti opened the scoring after 10 minutes as Josué Casimir calmly shielded the ball, waiting for Jean-Kévin Duverne to support him on the wing. carry it into the box before a square pass was audaciously backheeled goalwards by Lenny Joseph.
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The goal was initially awarded to the Haiti striker even though his effort looked to be going wide, deflecting in off the back of Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou,. it was later changed to become yet another own goal in this tournament.
Haiti’s 38-year-old goalkeeper Johny Placide, playing his last international after 15 years in the team, produced a series of sharp saves to twice deny Ayoub El Kaabi. Hakimi. But when he parried Bilal El Khannouss’s cross in the 39th minute. Hakimi was quickest to bundle it over the line for the equaliser.
Duverne set up Isidor for his rasping strike from outside the area to put Haiti ahead again.
Morocco’s response was much quicker the second time, with Sofyan Amrabat setting Hakimi off down the right flank. the captain dragging the ball back for Saibari to slot home.
Haiti’s defences were eventually breached from a set-piece although they protested vehemently for a foul after Rahimi had controlled the ball before turning. slamming home. Rahimi set up Yassine for a tap-in after Haiti’s defenders stopped playing, believing the ball had gone out of play,. VAR confirmed the goal.
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