HOUSTON: Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in the World Cup last 16 on Saturday, ending the record run of the co-hosts in the tournament and advancing to the quarter-finals for a second time in a row.
Morocco took the lead on 50 minutes from a well-worked free-kick routine as Achraf Hakimi played a low pass from the right-hand side to Ounahi, who side-footed into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.
Ounahi added a second on 82 minutes when a four-on-two break led to Brahim Diaz teeing the midfielder up to fire into the top corner.
Morocco added a late third via another lightning break as substitute Soufiane Rahimi crowned a convincing performance.
Morocco lost striker Ismael Saibari, who has three goals in the tournament, to a hamstring injury in the first half.
Morocco will face the winners of Saturday’s round of 16 clash between Paraguay and France in the quarterfinals on July 9.