by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Canada 0 - 3 Morocco
Ouanhi (50', 82'), Rahimi (90'+8)
Canada huffed and puffed but failed to blow the house down against a steely Morocco side that punished the co-host’s lack of edge in front of goal with a clinical display of finishing.
Canada’s profligacy saw Morocco run away as 3-0 winners and set up a Quarter Final clash against either Paraguay or France.
It’s hard to be too critical of Jesse Marsch, because in getting Canada to this stage he’s already surpassed any Canada manager in history. But for all intents and purposes, he set up Canada with a high press to deny space to an opponent who had more patience and ability on the break than he bargained for.
The first half seemed to be a show of aggressive pressing for Canada, with Marsch’s side coming out of the traps with the intent to press high, disrupt the Morocco build up and try to counter high up the pitch.
But after failing to get a goal in the first half, they ran out of steam and allowed Morocco to deploy the devastating, famed threat on the transition we identified before the tournament began.
The first half ended up being disrupted in part by a succession of fouls as neither side wanted to back down from an aggressive stance. Morocco picked up four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes as English referee Michael Oliver tried to control a game that at times threatened to boil over.
Canada only managed three shots on target, while up at the other end Morocco made their clinical tournament experience count by finishing with intent. Their first goal came just 5 minutes after the restart, with Ounahi sweeping home a Hakimi free kick. He then bagged a second in the 82nd minute as Morocco punished an open Canada on the counter.
The final scoreline of 3-0 was perhaps enhanced by Canada’s chasing of the game, but the finishes from Morocco were nevertheless lethally executed, with Rahimi getting the third deep in stoppage time to end the Canadian party.
This was Canada’s most successful tournament yet. Morocco still have to win their quarter final against France or Paraguay to equal their semi-final performance from 4 years ago.
5 min read
Canada 0 - 3 Morocco
Ouanhi (50', 82'), Rahimi (90'+8)
Canada huffed and puffed but failed to blow the house down against a steely Morocco side that punished the co-host’s lack of edge in front of goal with a clinical display of finishing.
Canada’s profligacy saw Morocco run away as 3-0 winners and set up a Quarter Final clash against either Paraguay or France.
It’s hard to be too critical of Jesse Marsch, because in getting Canada to this stage he’s already surpassed any Canada manager in history. But for all intents and purposes, he set up Canada with a high press to deny space to an opponent who had more patience and ability on the break than he bargained for.
The first half seemed to be a show of aggressive pressing for Canada, with Marsch’s side coming out of the traps with the intent to press high, disrupt the Morocco build up and try to counter high up the pitch.
But after failing to get a goal in the first half, they ran out of steam and allowed Morocco to deploy the devastating, famed threat on the transition we identified before the tournament began.
The first half ended up being disrupted in part by a succession of fouls as neither side wanted to back down from an aggressive stance. Morocco picked up four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes as English referee Michael Oliver tried to control a game that at times threatened to boil over.
Canada only managed three shots on target, while up at the other end Morocco made their clinical tournament experience count by finishing with intent. Their first goal came just 5 minutes after the restart, with Ounahi sweeping home a Hakimi free kick. He then bagged a second in the 82nd minute as Morocco punished an open Canada on the counter.
The final scoreline of 3-0 was perhaps enhanced by Canada’s chasing of the game, but the finishes from Morocco were nevertheless lethally executed, with Rahimi getting the third deep in stoppage time to end the Canadian party.
This was Canada’s most successful tournament yet. Morocco still have to win their quarter final against France or Paraguay to equal their semi-final performance from 4 years ago.
Last 16: Canada blown away by steely Morocco
Cana-done.
Original article:
Canada 0 - 3 Morocco
Ouanhi (50', 82'), Rahimi (90'+8)
Canada huffed and puffed but failed to blow the house down against a steely Morocco side that punished the co-host’s lack of edge in front of goal with a clinical display of finishing.
Canada’s profligacy saw Morocco run away as 3-0 winners and set up a Quarter Final clash against either Paraguay or France.
It’s hard to be too critical of Jesse Marsch, because in getting Canada to this stage he’s already surpassed any Canada manager in history. But for all intents and purposes, he set up Canada with a high press to deny space to an opponent who had more patience and ability on the break than he bargained for.
The first half seemed to be a show of aggressive pressing for Canada, with Marsch’s side coming out of the traps with the intent to press high, disrupt the Morocco build up and try to counter high up the pitch.
But after failing to get a goal in the first half, they ran out of steam and allowed Morocco to deploy the devastating, famed threat on the transition we identified before the tournament began.
The first half ended up being disrupted in part by a succession of fouls as neither side wanted to back down from an aggressive stance. Morocco picked up four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes as English referee Michael Oliver tried to control a game that at times threatened to boil over.
Canada only managed three shots on target, while up at the other end Morocco made their clinical tournament experience count by finishing with intent. Their first goal came just 5 minutes after the restart, with Ounahi sweeping home a Hakimi free kick. He then bagged a second in the 82nd minute as Morocco punished an open Canada on the counter.
The final scoreline of 3-0 was perhaps enhanced by Canada’s chasing of the game, but the finishes from Morocco were nevertheless lethally executed, with Rahimi getting the third deep in stoppage time to end the Canadian party.
This was Canada’s most successful tournament yet. Morocco still have to win their quarter final against France or Paraguay to equal their semi-final performance from 4 years ago.
5 min read
Last 16: Canada blown away by steely Morocco
Cana-done.
Canada 0 - 3 Morocco
Ouanhi (50', 82'), Rahimi (90'+8)
Canada huffed and puffed but failed to blow the house down against a steely Morocco side that punished the co-host’s lack of edge in front of goal with a clinical display of finishing.
Canada’s profligacy saw Morocco run away as 3-0 winners and set up a Quarter Final clash against either Paraguay or France.
It’s hard to be too critical of Jesse Marsch, because in getting Canada to this stage he’s already surpassed any Canada manager in history. But for all intents and purposes, he set up Canada with a high press to deny space to an opponent who had more patience and ability on the break than he bargained for.
The first half seemed to be a show of aggressive pressing for Canada, with Marsch’s side coming out of the traps with the intent to press high, disrupt the Morocco build up and try to counter high up the pitch.
But after failing to get a goal in the first half, they ran out of steam and allowed Morocco to deploy the devastating, famed threat on the transition we identified before the tournament began.
The first half ended up being disrupted in part by a succession of fouls as neither side wanted to back down from an aggressive stance. Morocco picked up four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes as English referee Michael Oliver tried to control a game that at times threatened to boil over.
Canada only managed three shots on target, while up at the other end Morocco made their clinical tournament experience count by finishing with intent. Their first goal came just 5 minutes after the restart, with Ounahi sweeping home a Hakimi free kick. He then bagged a second in the 82nd minute as Morocco punished an open Canada on the counter.
The final scoreline of 3-0 was perhaps enhanced by Canada’s chasing of the game, but the finishes from Morocco were nevertheless lethally executed, with Rahimi getting the third deep in stoppage time to end the Canadian party.
This was Canada’s most successful tournament yet. Morocco still have to win their quarter final against France or Paraguay to equal their semi-final performance from 4 years ago.
5 min read