Paris: Morocco moved into the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a comprehensive hammering of the USA at Parc des Princes
Achraf Hakimi was among those on target as his side sent out a potent message to their rivals in a one-sided quarter-final.
Morocco will now face Japan or Spain in the last four, with those two sides meeting later on Friday afternoon.
Morocco turned on the style to book a spot in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games for the first time with a 4-0 drubbing of an outclassed USA side at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Tarik Sektioui’s slick side never looked back after Soufiane Rahimi converted a 29th-minute penalty for the opener on Friday after Nathan Harriel was harshly penalised for fouling the Al Ain forward.
Ilias Akhomach added a second from close range on 63 minutes before Morocco captain and Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi finished off a surging run by slipping a superb third into the net on 70 minutes.
Morocco thrash USA to reach Olympic semi-finals – as it happenedMorocco thrash USA to reach Olympic semi-finals – as it happened
The USA were finished at that point, but Marko Mitrovic’s team were forced to suffer one last time when VAR deemed Harriel guilty of a handball as substitute El Mehdi Maouhoub slammed home the penalty in added time to complete the rout.
After reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, Morocco will face Spain or Japan in Marseille on Monday in their quest for a historic gold.
