MATCH RECAP: Canada falls to Morocco to end 2022 World Cup journey

The Canadian men’s national team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup journey came to a close on Thursday, as they fell 2-1 to Morocco in their final Group F match in Qatar.

Canada boss John Herdman made four changes to the lineup that lost to Croatia last time out, fully swapping out his midfield as Jonathan Osorio and Mark-Anthony Kaye came into the team. Sam Adekugbe entered at left-back, and Junior Hoilett returned to the side up front.

Morocco, needing a result to ensure their knockout round qualification, had two changes in their lineup, with Abdelhamid Sabiri coming into midfield and Yassine Bounou getting the nod in goal again after missing the win over Belgium.

Although Canada opened with a few strong moments, Morocco got off the ground very quickly. Canadian ‘keeper Milan Borjan stepped out of his box to try and clear a ball, but he put it right on the foot of Hakim Ziyech, who needed just to lob it from distance to find the empty goal and make it 1-0.

Again, Canada tried to get up the field, but they left themselves somewhat exposed at the back and in the 23rd minute Morocco struck again. Youssef En-Nesyri brought the ball down not far into the Canadian half and worked his way through a stretched Canadian backline, getting into the box and firing a near-post shot past Borjan to double his side’s lead.

Just before halftime, though, the Canadians found a glimmer of hope. Adekugbe burst down the left flank and sent a cross into the box, which took a deflection from a defender before stinging the palm of Moroccan goalkeeper Bounou and into the net to cut Morocco’s lead in half.

En-Nesyri put the ball in the goal again in stoppage time before the interval, but he was flagged offside and Canada were spared.

Herdman didn’t make any changes to his side at halftime, but after some strong (though fruitless) possession to start the second half he opted to make a triple change at the hour mark, bringing on Atiba Hutchinson, Jonathan David, and Ismaël Koné. Shortly after, Richie Laryea joined them off the bench in place of Osorio.

Canada thought they’d found their moment in the 71st minute, as Hutchinson got his head on a corner kick delivery, but his attempt came off the crossbar and bounced with just the very edge of the ball on the goal line, keeping Morocco in front by millimetres.

The Canadians were remarkable in the closing stages of the match, desperate for an equalizing goal despite not having a chance of advancing to the knockout round. Sadly, though, the second goal would continue to elude them as Canada will have to wait until 2026 on home soil to record their first point at a men’s World Cup.

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

Canada: Borjan; Miller, Vitória, Johnston; Adekugbe (Koné 60′), Osorio (Laryea 65′), Kaye (Hutchinson 60′), Buchanan; Hoilett (Wotherspoon 76′), Larin (David 60′), Davies

Morocco: Bounou; Mazraoui, Saïss, Aguerd, Hakimi (Jabrane 85′); Ounahi (El Yamiq 76′), Amrabat, Sabiri (Amallah 65′); Boufal (Aboukhlal 65′), En-Nesyri, Ziyech (Amdallah 76′)

GOALS

4′ — Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
23′ — Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco)
40′ — Naif Aguerd (Morocco) (Own Goal)

DISCIPLINE

7′ — Yellow: Junior Hoilett (Canada)
26′ — Yellow: Jonathan Osorio (Canada)
45+2′ — Yellow: Sam Adekugbe (Canada)
84′ — Yellow: Steven Vitória (Canada)