FOOTBALL – Morocco claimed the bronze medal in the men’s football tournament with a crushing 6-0 win over Egypt thanks to Soufiane Rahimi’s double and goals from Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss, Akram Nakach and Achraf Hakimi in Nantes yesterday.
Morocco, who lost 2-1 to Spain in the semi-finals, bounced back with the biggest win of the tournament so far to reach an Olympic podium for the first time. The bronze is also the country’s first medal in a team sport.
Egypt suffered their first regular time defeat of the tournament but despite the drubbing equalled their best result at the Olympics with a fourth place finish as in 1928 and 1964.
Ezzalzouli opened the scoring with a superb shot into the top corner after 23 minutes, before tournament top scorer Rahimi doubled the lead three minutes later with a fine header from Ezzalzouli’s cross.
El Khannouss got on the scoresheet six minutes into the second half with a great low finish after a solo run off Ezzalzouli’s second assist and Rahimi netted his eighth Olympic goal to make it 4-0.
Rahimi became the first player to score in six consecutive Olympic games, while his scoring record is the best since 2004 when Argentina’s Carlos Tevez also had eight. Defender Nakach tapped in from Rahimi’s pass and captain Hakimi completed the rout with a terrific free kick three minutes from time.
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