Canada 1 Morocco 2 LIVE RESULT: Ziyech & En Neysri ensure Morocco TOP Group F and set-up last-16 clash
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MOROCCO finished TOP of Group F thanks to goals from Hakim Ziyech and Yousseff En Neysri.
It was Milan Borjan, the Canada goalkeeper, who was at fault for the opener after taking a heavy touch into the path of the Moroccan who finished from far out to put his side ahead and top of the group as it stands.
They soon doubled their lead through Youssef En Nesyri, who calmly slotted past Borjan to make it comfortable for his side but Canada had a goal back as Nayef Augerd deflected a cross past his goalkeeper to halve the deficit.
Morroco thought they had restored the two-goal lead before half-time, but En Neysri saw his second chalked off as the flag was up for offside.
And Canada nearly netted an equaliser, with Atiba Hutchinson striking the bar from a header after a corner.
The African side managed to hold on, and with Croatia and Belgium playing out a draw, they remarkably finished top of Group F.
- Kick-off time: 3pm GMT
- Live stream:
- TV channel: BBC TWO
- Group F: LIVE TABLE
- Canada XI: Borjan; Johnston, Vitoria, Miller; Adekugbe, Osorio, Kaye, Davies; Buchanan, Larin, Hoilett
- Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
- Preview: How Morocco can qualify for the last-16
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Canada 0-2 Morocco
29. Canada are having some possession now.
With no way through the Moroccan lines, they pass back to their defenders.
Walid Regragui really has the Midas touch with this team.
I wonder if tomorrow will be a Bank Holiday in Morocco.
Canada 0-2 Morocco - Osorio yellow card
27. The Atlas Lions are not a team anyone will want to face in the knockout phases of the competition.
Solid at the back, physical, can pass the ball and finish their chances.
Some could even say dark horses for this World Cup.
Meanwhile Osorio is shown the yellow card for Canada.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
25. Ball in behind the Canadian defence and Youssef En-Nesyri gets himself onto it, beating two defenders in a foot race.
From the edge of the box he buries the shot passed the Canadian keeper.
It is party time for all those Moroccan fans now.
Credit: Getty
Goal - Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco)
Canada 0-1 Morocco
22. Morocco could become only the second African side to qualify for the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup.
Senegal of course play England on Sunday.
The travelling African fans are enjoying their day so far.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
21. Other than the goal, Canada will feel they were firmly in this game.
Morocco need to get the ball into the danger areas of the box more, they are spending too much time in wide positions.
It is difficult to hurt Canada from there.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19. Canada are still trying to feel their way into this game.
That works well for the Atlas Lions who can really counter-attack with pace and venom.
They have a goal lead too, it is the Canadians who have it all to do.
Credit: Getty Canada 0-1 Morocco
17. There are a lot of players putting themselves in the shop window in this World Cup.
Hakim Ziyech is one of them.
Heavily under-utilised at Chelsea, am sure there will be plenty of suitors.
It is almost as if he is allowed to just 'do his thing' for this Moroccan team.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
15. Ziyech is key to a lot of Morocco's creativty.
He is playing well for the Atlas Lions and looking like the player we saw before he came to Chelsea.
Canada counter for the first time and put a dangerous cross along the six yard box but Buchanan cannot reach it with his sliding effort.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
13. Morocco are happy to mix their game up.
They can play football and keep possession but they also know when to get rid of the ball.
If only Canada's Borjan had thought like that too.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
11. The Atlas Lions only needed a point today to qualify.
This is the perfect start and their fans are basking in it.
It is all Morocco out on the pitch too with Canada camped in their own half.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
9. The Canadian keeper still wants the ground to eat him up.
At least nobody really saw it apart from the billions of people tuning in around the world.
Morocco now with a free kick some ten yards outside the box in a central position.
Ziyech's effort hits the wall and goes out for a corner.
Credit: Getty Canada 0-1 Morocco
7. The Moroccan fans have the bit between their teeth now.
Every Canadian touch is booed and jeered.
Hoilett is booked for a foul on Ounahi.
Inside the ground - our man pitchside
SunSport's reporter Oscar Paul reports from Qatar:
There are an estimated 45,000 Moroccan fans supporting the Atlas Lions in Qatar - and boy do they know how to whip up an atmosphere.
With history within their grasp, the sense of excitement in Doha has been incredible all day.
It’s very simple: beat Canada and they will qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.
Speaking yesterday, coach Walid Regragui insists his side will not play for a point. Will he stick to his word?
Canada are already out in their first appearance on the biggest stage in 36 years but can make their own history by claiming their first ever points at a World Cup.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
5. The stadium erupts as the Canada keeper comes out of his box and mis-controls the ball.
It breaks to Ziyech who clips the ball over him into the empty goal.
What a gift from the Canadians.
This place has erupted.
Goal - Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
Canada 0-0 Morocco
3. The whistles and jeers when Canada are in possession is absolutely deafening.
Morocco are looking to get into their opponents with a high press.
Canada look to slow the pace of the game when they have the ball.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
1. Games don't come much bigger than this.
Morocco can qualify for the knockout stages for only the second time in their history.
They start on the front foot with Hakemi whipping in a cross and Boufal just unable to get a touch.
Kick-off: Canada vs Morocco
The noise during the Moroccan national anthem was spine-tingling.
What an atmosphere at the Al Thumama Stadium.
It is the Atlas Lions who get us underway.
Atlas Lions' fans craving victory
Canada will definitely feel like the away team today with Morocco fans everywhere in this stadium.
This game is huge for them, they could make the knockout stages for the first time in 36 years.
The Al Thumama Stadium will erupt if the North Africans score.
Credit: AFP 
Credit: PA 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty The Fonz breaks Canadian drought
In their 4-1 defeat against Croatia, Alphonso Davies got their goal in the game to break their duck to get a World Cup Finals goal at the fifth attempt.
They will be able to reminisce about that moment, and the fact they led the 2018 finals for thirty minutes, as they now turn their attentions to 2026.
Canada became only the second side after hosts Qatar to exit the competition.
Credit: AP
Unwanted records for collection
This is the first competitive match between Canada and Morocco.
Canada could equal El Salvador's record of losing all of their first six games at a World Cup.
They could lose three consecutive games for the first time since 2016.
Failure would require a huge slip
If Morocco lose, then things do become very complicated, as they would need either Croatia to lose by at least two goals more than they do, or for Belgium to lose in order to progress.
If Morocco were to lose by four goals or more, then a draw in the other group match would knock them out too.
Either way, the Atlas Lions need to get the job done themselves, but would be incredibly unfortunate not to go through having already taken points off both sides vying for the last 16 spot with them.
Credit: EPA 
Credit: AFP Morocco subs:
9. Hamdallah, 10. Zaroury, 12. Mohamedi, 13. Chair, 14. Aboukhlal, 15. Amallah, 16. Ezzalzouli, 18. El Yamiq, 20. Dari, 21. Cheddira, 22. Tagnaouti, 23. El Khannouss, 24. Benoun, 25. Attiat-Allah, 26. Jabrane
Morocco starting XI:
1. Bounou, 2. Hakimi, 3. Mazraoui, 4. Amrabat, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 7. Ziyech, 8. Ounahi, 11. Sabiri, 17. Boufal, 19. En-Nesyri
Credit: @EnMaroc
