Kathmandu: Morocco reached the World Cup quarter finals for the second time in a row. Azzedine Ounahi scored two goals in the second half to help them beat co hosts Canada 3-0.

Meanwhile, France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia, thanks to a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe. Now France and Morocco will play each other in the quarter finals.

Morocco 3-0 Canada

Morocco reached the semi finals four years ago in Qatar and they hope to do even better this time. In this game, Soufiane Rahimi also scored, right at the end.

Canada started the match well. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had to make quick saves to stop Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi from scoring. Morocco then lost their top scorer, Ismael Saibari, to an injury in the 22nd minute.

The first half was messy and full of fouls including a shove from Achraf Hakimi on Canada’s Richie Laryea. In fact, there were more yellow cards (six) than shots (five) in the first half, something that hasn’t happened at a World Cup since 1966. By the end of the match, eight yellow cards were given out, the most of any game so far in this tournament.

Morocco played much better in the second half. In the 50th minute, Hakimi tricked the defense with a clever pass and Ounahi curled the ball into the goal.

Later, Ounahi scored again after a good pass from Brahim Diaz becoming the first Moroccan player to score twice in a World Cup match since 1998. Rahimi added a third goal in the final minutes of the game.

Hakimi’s assist was his third of the tournament, the most by any African player in World Cup history. Canada still haven’t beaten Morocco in five matches between the two teams.

France 1-0 Paraguay

In Philadelphia, Mbappe scored his 19th goal in his 19th World Cup match converting a penalty in the 70th minute. It was a tough, physical game and Paraguay made things difficult for France, just like they did against Germany earlier in the tournament.

The first half ended with neither team managing a single shot on target, something that has only happened twice before in World Cup knockout matches since 1966.

After half-time, substitute Desire Doue made a big difference. He was fouled inside the penalty box and after a video review, the referee awarded France a penalty.

Paraguay’s players tried to distract Mbappe before he took the kick but he stayed calm and scored anyway. It was his 11th World Cup goal in a knockout match, more than any other player in history.

With this goal, Mbappe now has seven goals at this World Cup, the same as Lionel Messi. It was also France’s 150th goal in World Cup history; only Brazil, Germany and Argentina have scored more.

France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan made an important save late in the game and Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill also made two great saves to deny Mbappe. France held on to win.

What’s Next

France and Morocco will now face each other in the quarter finals, a repeat of their 2022 semi-final which France won on their way to the final. This time, Morocco will be hoping for revenge and a chance to go even further than they did four years ago.