Atlanta Delivers a Classic: Morocco and Haiti Trade Punches in Group C Thriller

Nobody told Haiti this was supposed to be a coronation.

Morocco arrived needing a win to lock up the knockout rounds; Haiti arrived already eliminated, playing only for pride. On paper, a formality. On the pitch, anything but.

Haiti struck first in the 10th minute, Lenny Joseph’s clever effort deflecting in off Yassine Bounou for an own goal. Morocco leveled through captain Achraf Hakimi in the 39th, only for Wilson Isidor to answer four minutes later with a thunderous strike into the top corner, a contender for goal of the tournament or at least this. Hakimi turned creator in stoppage time, setting up Ismael Saibari to make it 2-2 at the break, his third goal of the World Cup.

Morocco dominated the underlying numbers. 2.15 expected goals from 13 shots to Haiti’s 0.48 from four but the scoreline refused to reflect it. Brahim Diaz spurned the clearest second-half chance to make it 3-2, and goalkeeper, but Johny Placide kept Haiti level with a string of big saves.

With a crowd of 68,239 and a huge turnout of Haitian fans, the vibes on the stands were set to be as electrict as they were.

Despite the great effort by the Haitian team. They will leave the tournamen with no points with Morocco crowning themselves as group C winners with a final score of 4-2.