Morocco overcame a shaky start to defeat Haiti 4-2 in a thrilling World Cup group stage match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A masterclass from midfielder Bilal El Khannouss helped the Atlas Lions secure all three points after an early setback. Morocco entered the game looking to build on their opening draw, while Haiti desperately needed a result.
The match began with a major shock in the 10th minute. Morocco goalkeeper Bono made a costly error and turned the ball into his own net to give Haiti an unexpected early lead.
Morocco responded with heavy pressure on the Haitian defense. In the 39th minute, Achraf Hakimi leveled the score by firing a powerful shot past the goalkeeper after a brilliant team move.
However, Haiti quickly hit back in the 43rd minute. Wilson Isidor found space inside the penalty area and slotted the ball home to restore the underdog's lead and stun the stadium.
Just before the break, Morocco equalized once again. Ismael Saibari guided the ball home in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-2 after a period of intense pressure.
Both teams went into the dressing rooms level after a chaotic first half. Morocco needed to control the possession in the second half to avoid another dangerous surprise from their opponents.
The African side dominated the ball after the restart, searching for a breakthrough. However, they had to wait until the 78th minute to finally take the lead in this tight contest.
Substitute Soufiane Rahimi made an instant impact off the bench. He curled a precise effort into the far corner of the net to put Morocco ahead for the first time in the match.
Haiti grew frustrated as Danley Nazon and Johny Placide both received yellow cards. In the 89th minute, Gessime Yassine tucked away Morocco's fourth goal to seal the victory and secure the points.
Morocco dominated the statistics with 70 percent possession and 22 total shots. They recorded an expected goals rate of 3.26 compared to Haiti's 0.52, showing their clear dominance on the night.
The vital victory moves Morocco to second place in the group with four points. Meanwhile, Haiti remains at the bottom of the table after suffering two straight defeats in the tournament.
