Morocco Rally Past Haiti 4-2 to Secure Round of 32 Spot

Morocco came from behind twice to beat Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta on Wednesday, denying the Caribbean nation their first ever point at a World Cup. 

Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine scored late to seal the win, though Morocco still finished second in Group C after Brazil beat Scotland in Miami. They will face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the round of 32.

Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world and already eliminated heading into the game, gave a spirited performance and led twice against one of the tournament's fancied sides. They also doubled their total goals tally in World Cup history across the 90 minutes.

The game started brightly for Haiti when a flicked finish from Lenny Joseph came off goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and trickled into the net in the 10th minute. It went down as an own goal, denying Joseph the chance to become only the second Haitian to score at a World Cup after Emmanuel Sanon, who netted twice in 1974.

Morocco levelled in the 39th minute when Achraf Hakimi bundled the ball home after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to keep out Brahim Diaz's shot. But Haiti hit back two minutes before half time through Wilson Isidor, who fired a stunning strike into the top corner from 25 yards to send the Haiti supporters into raptures.

Morocco drew level again in first-half stoppage time. Hakimi pulled the ball back for Ismael Saibari, who finished coolly for his third goal of the tournament.

Placide made a string of fine saves in the second half to keep Haiti in it, but he could not stop Rahimi's deflected effort with 12 minutes to go. Yassine then turned home a fourth with a minute left, a finish confirmed by VAR after a tight call on whether the ball had stayed in play.

Haiti are eliminated and finish bottom of Group C. Morocco are through to the last 32 and will play at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on June 30,