Morocco extended its lead twice to defeat Haiti 4-2 in an entertaining World Cup game on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to clinch Group C’s No. 1 position.
Haiti, who were the first team eliminated from the tournament, scored a goal in the first 10 minutes of the match.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou by a mistake scored a goal into his own net giving Haiti its first goal in the World Cup in years.
Captain Achraf Hakimi then scored the goal for the Moroccan side, the Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide was unable to defend the goal.
But Haiti soon got the lead back when a strong long-range strike by Wilson Isidor flew into the top corner of the net.
Morocco equalled the score back by half-time. Ismael Saibari, one of Morocco’s top players, had no problem scoring a goal from close range to give the game a 2-2 score.
The second half saw a few more competitive moments, but the Moroccans finally got their grip.
For the first time ever the Moroccan player, Soufiane Rahimi scored a goal for Morrocco putting them ahead of their opponents.
With Morocco moving towards victory, the goal had the 30-year-old visibly emotional.
Rahimi was involved in the scoring of Morocco’s fourth goal late in the match. He picked up the ball close to Haiti’s goal to produce a pass for substitute Gessime Yassine who then scored and moved the score to 4-2.
Haiti went home without a win, but this was their first World Cup appearance since 1974 and the goals they scored in the process provided plenty of reason for their fans to cheer.
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