7M - Haiti 2-4 Morocco: Atlas Lions book knockout spot after six-goal World Cup thriller

Morocco secured their place in the World Cup Round of 16 after coming from behind twice to defeat a resilient Haiti 4-2 in a pulsating final Group C encounter.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side overcame a sluggish start and some defensive vulnerabilities to finish level on seven points with group leaders Brazil, progressing as runners-up due to an inferior goal difference.

Despite already being mathematically eliminated, Sebastien Migne’s Haiti played with immense pride and stunned the North Africans after just ten minutes. Lenny Joseph capitalised on early space to slot past the Moroccan goalkeeper, capping off a lightning-fast start from the underdogs.

Morocco, who started with a heavily rotated lineup featuring Sofyan Amrabat and Ayoub El Kaabi, gradually seized control of possession and pinned Haiti back into their own half. The pressure finally told in the 39th minute when star fullback Achraf Hakimi advanced down the flank to fire home a crucial equalizer.

The joy was short-lived, however, as Haiti struck back almost immediately. Wilson Isidor turned the Moroccan defense inside out before producing a clinical finish to restore the Caribbean side's shock lead, earning widespread praise for his tireless performance.

Yet, Morocco responded on the stroke of half-time through Ismael Saibari, who continued his historic individual campaign. Saibari’s clinical strike made him the first Moroccan player in history to score in three consecutive World Cup matches, sending the teams into the break deadlocked at 2-2.

With over 49,000 passionate Moroccan fans turning the stadium into a sea of red and green, the Atlas Lions dominated the second half. The relentless noise paid dividends when Soufiane Rahimi found space inside the box to turn the game on its head, giving Morocco the lead for the first time.

Haiti continued to fight valiantly on the counter, but their resistance was finally broken in the dying minutes. Deep into stoppage time, Yassine Gessime latched onto a loose ball to smash home Morocco’s fourth, sparking wild celebrations in the stands as the Atlas Lions officially stamped their ticket to the knockout phase.