Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
In an electrifying encounter, Morocco came from behind twice to defeat Haiti 4-2, ensuring their advancement to the World Cup last 32 as Group C runners-up. The victory followed a competitive match where Morocco, aiming to improve their standing, faced stiff resistance from Haiti, who had already been eliminated from the tournament after their earlier games. Morocco's goals came from Achraf Hakimi, Ismael Saibari, Soufiane Rahimi, and Yassine Gessime, showcasing their depth despite falling short of Salah's goal difference to Brazil, who topped the group with seven points, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.
The match opened dramatically with Haiti scoring first through a deflected own goal by Morocco's goalkeeper, Lenny Joseph, after just ten minutes. However, Achraf Hakimi equalized for Morocco in the 39th minute, taking advantage of a rebound after a Haiti defensive lapse. Haiti struck back with a stunning long-range goal from Wilson Isidor close to halftime, but Morocco responded swiftly with a goal from Ismael Saibari to level the match before the break. This high-paced back-and-forth highlighted both teams' resoluteness, as Haiti aimed for pride in their final group game, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.
In the second half, Morocco took control of the match, with Rashidi scoring from a corner in the 78th minute, capitalizing on Haiti's failure to clear the ball. Gessime Yassine then sealed the victory with a goal in stoppage time, confirming Morocco's place in the knockout stage of the tournament. Haiti, despite ending their World Cup run without a point, celebrated their historic goals, marking a proud moment for their footballing nation after a long absence from the tournament, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.