Canada leads Morocco 2-1 with the second half underway in their final group stage match at the Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
A shot into the box by Canadian Sam Adekugbe in the 40th minute deflected off Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd and into the back of the net. The marker enters the scoreboard as an own goal by l’Aguerd, and cuts Morocco’s lead in half.
Hakim Ziyech struck for the African in the fourth minute after Canadian defender Steven Vitoria miscued a pass to goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who was unable to clear the ball, instead placing it straight at Ziyech’s feet.
Ziyech fired a shot from outside the box over Borjan and safely into the back of the net.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored Morocco’s second goal in the 23rd minute with an unhindered run before laying the ball past Borjan from the right side of the box.
Morocco also had a goal disallowed just before the break on an offside call.
Azzedine Ounahi of Morocco controls the ball against Alistair Johnston of Canada. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Canada is already mathematically eliminated from advancing, having lost its first two games. Morocco need at least a draw to advance.
But there’s still something on the line for coach John Herdman’s squad: Canada’s first win or tie in the men’s edition of the tournament.
Alphonso Davies scored the country’s first historic goal when he scored just over a minute into Canada’s 4-1 final loss to Croatia. Earlier, Canada fell 1-0 to Belgium.
Now Canada wants to play spoiler against Morocco.
Herdman made four changes to his starting lineup. Sam Adekugbe, Junior Hoilett and Jonathan Osorio all start, along with midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye, who gets his first cap of the tournament in Qatar.
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Canada’s last World Cup appearance was in 1986, but ended with three losses and zero goals. Their next appearance will be less than four years from now when they are guaranteed a spot as co-hosts of the 2026 tournament alongside the United States and Mexico.
Croatia and Belgium, the other contenders in Group F, were tied 0-0 at half-time.