On paper it looked routine: the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists against a Haiti side returning to the world stage for the first time in 52 years. But at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, an outgunned Haiti produced a performance full of spirit and made Morocco work far harder than anyone anticipated. Coming from behind twice, Morocco eventually prevailed 4-2 to reach the round of 32.
Haiti, already eliminated after two defeats, had nothing to lose heading into the final group game and played with an appropriate freedom. In the 10th minute they stunned Morocco by taking the lead through an own goal, after a serious error by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. It was Haiti’s first ever goal in World Cup history and the 150th goal of this tournament.
Morocco pushed to level and found their equalizer in the 39th minute. El Khannous’s shot was saved by Haiti goalkeeper Placide, but Achraf Hakimi tapped in the rebound. The lead lasted only four minutes. In the 43rd minute, Wilson Odobert exploited a defensive lapse to restore Haiti’s advantage with a long-range strike from approximately 25 yards, making it 2-1.
Morocco leveled again in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Ismail Saibari finished first time from the centre of the box after Hakimi’s low cross, sending the sides in level at 2-2 at the interval.
After the break Morocco pressed harder but were held at bay by an organised Haiti defence until the 78th minute, when Soufiane Rahimi broke the stalemate. A corner fell to Riad, whose touch set up Rahimi to curl the ball into the net and put Morocco 3-2 ahead.
Deep into stoppage time, Rahimi kept play alive on the left flank before pulling the ball back to Yassin, who tapped into an empty net. Haiti’s players protested that the ball had gone out of play, but VAR confirmed the goal. Morocco led 4-2 at the final whistle. Haiti exited the tournament having pushed Africa’s leading side harder than the scoreline suggests; Morocco advanced to the round of 32 with a hard-fought win.
Morocco finished as Group C runners-up with 7 points — two wins and a draw from their three games. In the other match, Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 to top the group, also on 7 points; Morocco are second on goal difference. Scotland, on 3 points, retain a slim outside chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams. In the round of 32, Morocco will face the Group F winners, a position currently held by Netherlands.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report