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Morocco ended Canada's historic first appearance in the World Cup knockout stages with a clinical 3–0 triumph in Houston, booking their place in the quarter-finals after a dominant second-half performance. Although Jesse Marsch’s team controlled possession early and created several set-piece opportunities, they were repeatedly denied by Yassine Bounou, who made crucial saves to thwart Jonathan David before Azzedine Ounahi struck twice to decide the match.

Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute from a well-worked set piece and later doubled Morocco’s advantage on the counter-attack in the 82nd minute. Soufiane Rahimi then added a third in stoppage time to complete a commanding victory. GOAL takes a closer look at the key winners and losers from the Canada versus Morocco clash.

The Moroccan midfielder produced a match-defining performance, scoring both goals that propelled his side to the quarter-finals. His first strike came five minutes into the second half, a composed first-time finish from the edge of the box following Achraf Hakimi’s clever set-piece delivery, breaking Canada’s resilience at a crucial stage.

His second goal, scored in the 82nd minute, highlighted Morocco’s lethal counter-attacking ability as Canada pushed men forward. Receiving a pass from Brahim Díaz, Ounahi fired accurately from outside the area, putting the result beyond doubt and effectively ending Canada’s campaign.

Even after receiving a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, Ounahi maintained full control of the midfield and continued to dictate play. His brace earned him the man of the match award and secured Morocco’s progression to the quarter-finals once again.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou delivered an outstanding performance against his country of birth, producing several key saves during Canada’s dominant first-half spell. He denied Jonathan David twice within the opening 15 minutes, showing excellent anticipation and positioning to keep his team level.

His most critical intervention arrived in the 79th minute when Tajon Buchanan unleashed a fierce long-range attempt heading for the corner. Bounou reacted brilliantly, stretching fully to tip the ball around the post and preserve Morocco’s narrow lead at a decisive moment.

Throughout the match, Bounou showed composure while dealing with aerial threats and set pieces as Canada pressed late on. His distribution also played a vital role in initiating the counter-attacks that produced Morocco’s goals, completing a superb all-round display against his birthplace nation.

For Canada, defender Luc De Fougerolles endured a difficult outing that contributed directly to Morocco’s success. His sliding tackle on Soufiane Rahimi in the 49th minute earned him a yellow card and conceded the free kick that Ounahi converted moments later.

De Fougerolles’ struggles continued when his misplaced pass in the 82nd minute was intercepted by Morocco, sparking the counter-attack that led to Ounahi’s second goal—effectively confirming Canada’s exit from their maiden World Cup knockout appearance.

Earlier in the game, De Fougerolles attempted a speculative effort from distance that sailed harmlessly over the bar when composure was required. With Morocco pressing high and targeting his distribution, his individual mistakes proved costly for Canada’s historic hopes.