Paris 2024 Olympics: Morocco make it through to semis after a dominant performance against USA

New Delhi: The future stars of Morocco have made it through to the semi finals of Paris 2024 Olympics after thrashing USA U-23 national football team, 4-0 in the quarter finals. The 2023 Africa cup U-23 champions are enjoying a wonderful run as they reach their first ever Olympics semi finals after a class performance on the pitch.

It was a physical game where both the sides showed the hunger to progress through to the next round and after a tussling opening few minutes of the game, it was clear that it would be a contest full of drama and entertainment. Tackles were flying around as the refree was busy throughout the match, specially in the opening few minutes as the first booking was given to USA’s Jack McGlynn in the 15th minute of the game.

Soufiane Rahimi of Morocco scores his team’s first goal during the Men’s Football Quarter-final match between Morocco and USA on Day 7 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Both the side had their say on the pitch, constantly threatening one another’s box, but it was the Moroccan side that opened the scoring. Soufiane Rahimi, who has been Morocco’s leading goal scorer in this year’s campaign, earned a penalty and slotted it home in the 29th minute of the game to score his 5th goal of the campaign. The 28-year-old is having a wonderful campaign as he has managed to score in each of Morocco’s games in this campaign.

It was turning out to be a pretty rough game where the refree was kept busy as their were a numerous fouls in the opening half of the game. However, despite the constant pressure from both the side, the first half ended 1-0, advantage to the Moroccan U-23 side. The second half got rolling and USA were looking to respond to their first half Adversity as on the other hand, Morocco were looking to add to extend their advantage.

Ilias Akhomach of Morocco celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Men’s Football Quarter-final match between Morocco and USA on Day 7 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

However, Ilias Akhomach added a second for Morocco U-23 in the 63rd minute of the game. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli rolled the ball towards the Akhomach inside the box who made no mistake in putting the ball into the net to give his side a 2-0 advantage. It was the first goal of the campaign for the Villareal forward as he showed his sharpness in front of the goal.

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Men’s Football Quarter-final match between Morocco and USA on Day 7 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

It didn’t take the Moroccan side to add a third goal as their star right back from PSG, Achraf Hakimi took a left footed shot from outside the box to beat Patrick Schulte to make it 3-0 in the 70th minute of the game. The talented right back scored his first goal of the campaign as the Moroccan side produced a dominant display to make it look like a one sided contest. El Mehdi Maouboub firther added to USA’s miseries as he converted the second penalty of the match to make it 4-0 for Morocco U-23 side in the final moments of the game.

Morocco now have a task to compete against Spain after they won the match against Japan to progress through to the semis. The job is not quite done for the Moroccan side as they prepare for the next round agaisnt an extremely talented Spanish side in the semi finals.

Morocco U-23 defeat USA U-23 in the quarter finals with a dominant performance to progress through to the semi finals of Paris Olympics 2024. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today