Canada vs Morocco: Player Ratings as Ounahi (9.3) Shines in 3-0 World Cup Win

 Morocco’s Clinical Edge Sends Canada Packing: Player Ratings as Ounahi Shines (9.3/10) in 3-0 Victory

In a tale of two halves, Morocco weathered a Canadian storm to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a ruthless 3-0 victory in Houston. While the co-hosts dominated the opening 45 minutes, a second-half masterclass from Azzedine Ounahi proved the difference as the Atlas Lions roared into the last eight.

HOUSTON, Texas – The NRG Stadium witnessed a stark lesson in knockout football on Saturday as Morocco ended Canada’s historic World Cup run with a decisive 3-0 victory in the Round of 16.

For the Canadian supporters who had packed the stadium in hope, the final whistle brought heartbreak. They had watched their team produce arguably their best football of the tournament in the first half, only to see it all undone by a clinical Moroccan side that knows exactly how to win these high-stakes encounters .

First Half Frustration Gives Way to Moroccan Brilliance

Canada started like a side possessed. Jesse Marsch’s men pressed relentlessly, forcing the normally composed Moroccan defence into uncharacteristic errors. Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi both had golden opportunities to put the co-hosts ahead inside the opening 11 minutes, only to be denied by the superb Yassine Bounou .

The statistics from the opening period told a compelling story of Canadian dominance. They had 30 touches inside the Moroccan box compared to just one for the Atlas Lions . Canada registered four shots on target in the first half alone, while Morocco managed just a single attempt . The possession stats, however, were misleadingly close, with Morocco holding 55.4% of the ball but struggling to break through Canada’s high press .

The frustration for Morocco boiled over in the 40th minute when captain Achraf Hakimi was booked after a shoving match with Canada’s Richie Laryea . English referee Michael Oliver brandished a total of six yellow cards in a bad-tempered first period .

Ounahi Double Sends Atlas Lions Through

Whatever Walid Regragui said in the Moroccan dressing room at half-time worked wonders. The Atlas Lions emerged a transformed side and struck with devastating effect just five minutes after the restart.

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Achraf Hakimi’s clever low free-kick from the right found Azzedine Ounahi unmarked at the edge of the box. The Girona midfielder made no mistake, calmly side-footing the ball past Maxime Crépeau into the bottom corner .

The goal knocked the wind out of Canada’s sails. They pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Jonathan David looping a free-kick over the bar in the 78th minute – a moment that proved pivotal .

Then came the sucker punch. In the 82nd minute, Morocco hit on the counterattack. Brahim Diaz, who was electric throughout the second half, drove forward and set up Ounahi for his second of the night. The midfielder rifled the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 .

Late Third Seals the Deal

Soufiane Rahimi, who had come on as an early substitute for the injured Ismael Saibari, put the icing on the cake in the final minute of stoppage time. Once again, Diaz was the provider, playing a perfectly weighted pass for the striker to slide past Crépeau and make it 3-0 .

It was a harsh scoreline for a Canada side that had given everything. They became the first co-host nation to exit the 2026 World Cup, but their tournament represented significant progress for a programme that had never previously won a match at the senior men’s World Cup .

Player Ratings: The Tale of Two Midfields

The contrasting performances of the midfield generals perfectly encapsulate the match.

Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco): 9.3/10
The standout performer of the night. Despite a subdued first half and a yellow card, Ounahi was unplayable after the break. His two goals, both taken with ice-cold composure, demonstrated his quality on the biggest stage. He was the catalyst for Morocco’s quarter-final qualification .

Stephen Eustaquio (Canada): 6.7/10
The Canadian captain battled tirelessly in the midfield, showing great courage and industry in the face of relentless pressure . He was often a lone soldier in the engine room, and while his distribution wasn't always accurate, his work rate and leadership were commendable. He was arguably Canada’s best player on a difficult night .

What’s Next?

Morocco marches on to a quarter-final clash with either France or Paraguay in Boston on Thursday . For Canada, the focus will now turn to the future. Despite the disappointment, they have proven they can compete with the world’s best and will look to build on this momentum for the next cycle.