Morocco made history! The Atlanta Lions ended their amazing unbeaten streak in Group 6 of the World Cup in Qatar with a 2-1 victory over Canada, they finished first in the group with 7 points ) and qualified for the “16” World Cup for the first time, after 36 years and their presence in the playoffs of the tournament in Mexico, where they were eliminated by the Germans.

An early goal by Zigies and an execution by En-Nesiri gave the Moroccans an air of victory, reaching three points despite Agerd’s own goal in the 40th minute. Morocco will meet in “16” with the team that will finish 2nd in the 5th group.

At the Al-Tumama stadium in Doha, the Moroccan team started the match in the best possible way, taking the lead already in the 4th minute.

Johnston’s dangerous turn forced Borjan to come out and rather clumsily push the ball out of his zone, while timekeeper Hakim Zygies shot from 40 meters into an empty net, making the score 1-0 in favor of the Moroccans.

Canada tried to fight back and came close to equalizing in the 15th minute, but Buchanan was unable to deflect the ball off Davis’s move.

On the other hand, the Moroccans continued to impress. In the 23rd minute, a superb ball to the back of Hakimi put En-Nesiri in a striking position, and he unmistakably made it 2-0 and sealed the qualifications of the impressive Moroccans.

In the 40th minute, Canada “re-entered” the match against the flow of the match. Antekugbe made a very good dribbling and low cross, while Agerde interfered with the trajectory of the ball and unwittingly sent it into the Bunu net, giving the Canadians a chance to make it 2-1.

It was Qatar’s 100th World Cup goal this year and the first goal conceded by Morocco in this year’s tournament.

In stoppage time in the first half, En-Nesiri scored a goal again, but his goal was not counted because (non-closed) Agerd was in front of Boryan and influenced the situation.

In the second half, the picture of the match changed drastically… Canada came out much stronger to claim at least a draw, and not come back with… a zero at its core, and in the 58th minute came close to equalizing, but Hoylett’s projection has gone far.

In the 71st minute, the Canadians missed an incredible opportunity. Hutchinson’s header hit Boone’s crossbar, then the ball bounced off the line, with Johnston’s second header going just over the crossbar.

The Moroccans have withstood the pressure of the Canadians in the last 20 minutes and at the final whistle I found them celebrating a historic and fair qualification, leaving the Belgian on the sidelines.

Referee: Rafael Klaus (Brazil).
Yellow: Hoylett, Osorio, Antecugbe, Vitoria

CANADA (John Herdman): Borjan, Johnston, Vitoria, Miller, Antekugbe (Kone, 61), Osorio (Laria, 65), Kaye (Hutchinson, 60), Davis, Buchanan, Larin (David, 60), Hoylett (76) . Wotherspoon).

MOROCCO (Walid Regragui): Bunu, Hakimi (Zabran, 85), Agerd, Saiss, Mazraoui, Unakhi (El-Yamik, 77), Amrabad, Sabiri (Amalla, 65), Zigies (Habdala, 76), En-Nesiri, Bufal (65′ Abduklal).