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, and fell short of topping Brazil in Group C.
Morocco finished level on seven points with the five-time world champions, who beat Scotland 3-0, but are runners-up on goal difference and will play the Group F winners – Japan, the Netherlands or Sweden – on Monday in the first knockout round.
Coach Ouahbi's Ambition
"We were looking for first spot in the group, but Haiti had nothing to lose and played a good transition game, so it was not an easy game for us," said the coach Mohamed Ouahbi. "Morocco has entered a whole new dimension, and we're part of a new momentum where we actually need to believe we can take the title. How do we reach this objective? We need to be 100% committed. Today, we have the best ingredients that are needed to become the best nation, and we believe we can do it; the players believe in it, the same for the staff."
Match Highlights
Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early but Achraf Hakimi, the African footballer of the year, equalised in the 39th minute. Wilson Isidor's thunderbolt restored Haiti's lead in the 43rd minute but matters were soon level again after Ismael Saibari scored his third goal in three World Cup appearances. It took until the 78th minute for Morocco to go ahead when the substitute Soufiane Rahimi thrashed home from close range after Haiti failed to clear a corner and the 20-year-old Gessime Yassine made it 4-2 in the last minute.
Haiti's Pride
Haiti had only pride to play for but made Morocco work for their victory and 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," their manager, Sébastien Migné, 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."
Early Goal Drama
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 and carry it into the box before a square pass was audaciously backheeled goalwards by Lenny Joseph. 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's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, but it was later changed to become yet another own goal in this tournament.
Goalkeeping Heroics and Responses
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 and Hakimi. But when he parried Bilal El Khannouss's cross in the 39th minute, Hakimi bundled 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 quicker the second time, with Sofyan Amrabat setting Hakimi off down the right flank and the captain dragging the ball back for Saibari to slot home.
Set Piece Decides
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 and slamming home. Rahimi set up Yassine for a tap-in after Haiti's defenders stopped playing, believing the ball had gone out of play, but the video assistant referee confirmed the goal.
