Canada 0-3 Morocco: the hosts' dream dies in Houston as Ounahi turns the screw

[Builder]

The first co host is out and the scoreline is crueller than the game. Canada pressed Morocco into a chippy, goalless first half that produced SIX yellow cards, Bounou had to be sharp to deny Oluwaseyi from close range, and for 50 minutes the upset felt live. Then Ounahi swept in off Hakimi's set piece routine, added a second on 82, and Brahim Diaz teed up Rahimi in stoppage time to finish it 3-0

The stats tell you how fine the margins were, Morocco won it with just FIVE shots, the fewest by a winning team in the World Cup knockouts since records began, and the xG finished 0.85 to 0.78. Canada drove most of the play and go home, Morocco took their moments and extend a world record unbeaten run to 34 matches

Perspective matters for Canada though, a team that had never won a senior men's World Cup game before this summer just reached a last 16 and gave the African champions a genuine fright. Marsch has built something real and the noise from the watch parties back home all tournament says the country noticed

Morocco meanwhile become the first African side to reach back to back quarterfinals, though losing new Bayern signing Saibari to injury before half time is a real worry. They get France or Paraguay in Boston on Thursday. So, is this Morocco side actually better than the 2022 semifinal one, and where does Canada's run rank among host nation stories?

Canada's FIFA World Cup journey ends with Round of 16 loss to Morocco - Team Canadaolympic.ca

[alwaysRock40]

Five shots, three goals, 34 unbeaten. Morocco are the most efficient tournament machine in world football and people STILL talk about them like plucky outsiders

[DarkAvenger45]

The scoreline is a lie and I say that as a neutral, Canada were the better side for an hour. Knockout football does not pay you for hours, it pays you for moments

[IronQuarry48]

Better than the 2022 side for me, that team defended for its life, this one controls games and has Ounahi playing like the player everyone predicted three years ago

[Luca73]

Not sure about better, the 2022 side beat Spain and Portugal back to back. Beat France on Thursday and then we can have this conversation properly

[SlowSocket]

The Saibari injury could quietly decide their whole tournament, he has been their best creator and a quarterfinal against France with him missing is a different tie entirely

[Dave_52]

Six yellows in a first half tells you Canada made it exactly the kind of scrap they needed it to be, the plan worked for 50 minutes. One set piece routine undid it, fine margins is right

[Postie]

Canadian here, gutted and proud in equal measure. Four years ago we could not win a World Cup game, today we are annoyed about losing a last 16 tie. That is progress you can touch

[GoldbergFan_X]

The watch party detail is the real legacy, a generation of Canadian kids just spent a summer caring about this team. That outlasts any scoreline

[Rashford49]

Everyone crowning Morocco should remember they needed penalties against the Dutch last round. Brilliant team, yes, unbeatable aura, no

[Dylan38]

Fair, but surviving the Dutch on penalties and then dispatching a host in front of a hostile crowd is exactly what deep tournament runs are made of

[BigDog]

France or Paraguay in Boston is deliciously poised either way, a 2022 semifinal rematch or the tournament's chaos merchants. Morocco cannot catch a quiet draw