Two late goals earned Morocco a hard-fought 4-2 win against Haiti in their final Group C game, which saw them finish as runners-up.
Haiti twice led in Atlanta – including a stunning hit from Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor – but were beaten late on by the 2022 semi-finalists.
The Caribbean nation had nothing to lose either, having already been knocked out heading into the game, and took a superb lead inside 10 minutes as Lenny Joseph finished a fine team move – although it later went down as a Yassine Bounou own goal.
It took almost half an hour for Morocco to equalise as Achraf Hakimi bundled home after a weak Johny Placide save – only for Isidor to smash in a stunning Haiti second four minutes later. That, though, lasted for half as long as Ismael Saibari’s placed finish equalised for Morocco once again before half-time.
Isidor scored a stunning second goal for Haiti
The second half had fewer goals, but the ones that were scored both came for Morocco. It took until the 78th minute for Soufiane Rahimi to score on the turn from a flicked-on corner, before Gessime Yassine scored his first international goal for the Atlas Lions’ fourth. There was a VAR check on whether the ball stayed in play or not, but it was deemed to have been in.
It was a harsh scoreline on Haiti, who have given a good account of themselves at their second World Cup. Morocco, meanwhile, will face the winners of Group F in the round of 32. The Netherlands are currently top of the group, but both Japan and Sweden can still go through as group winners.
Ismael Saibari equalised for Morocco on half-time
The key moments from Atlanta…
10: GOAL! Joseph puts Haiti ahead after a wonderful team move.
30: OUTSTANDING GOALKEEPING! Placide makes an outstanding double save to deny Hakimi and then Ayoub El Kaabi.
39: GOAL! Hakimi’s bundled effort levelled for Morocco.
43: GOAL! Isidor’s stunner put Haiti back ahead after poor clearing from Morocco.
45: GOAL! A breathless end to the first half sees Saibari placed finish level again for the Atlas Lions.
78: GOAL! Rahimi’s turn and finish puts Morocco ahead for the first time.
89: GOAL! Yassine scores his first international goal to add Morocco’s fourth. There is a VAR check to see if the ball stayed in play, which it did.
What the result means…
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