Morocco twice overcame the shock of conceding to Haiti to win a World Cup thriller 4-2 in Atlanta, but missed out on the top spot in Group C to Brazil.

Haiti bowed out with their first World Cup goals in 52 years, as a Yassine Bounou own goal and Wilson Isidor’s stunning strike twice gave them the lead on Wednesday.

Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, with his third goal in as many games at the World Cup, levelled before half-time.

Soufiane Rahimi was nearly brought to tears when the 30-year-old’s deflected effort found the top corner to give Morocco the lead, before Gessime Yassine rounded off the scoring.

But Morocco missed out on the top spot in the group to Brazil on goal difference, meaning they will head to Monterrey for a likely meeting against the Netherlands or Japan on Monday.

Despite bowing out without a point, Haiti’s performances at their first World Cup since 1974 have done a nation gripped by poverty proud.

Les Grenadiers were already eliminated after losing to Scotland and Brazil , but the thousands of Haitian expats in the stands in Atlanta were undeterred as every attack was met with deafening cheers.

Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi made four changes to the side that had impressed in holding Brazil and beating Scotland in their opening two games, and the Atlas Lions started sloppily.

Haiti’s long wait for a goal on the global stage was ended after just 10 minutes, when Jean-Kevin Duverne got to the byline, and Lenny Joseph flicked the resulting cross into the net via a deflection off Bounou.

Hakimi has continued to captain Morocco despite learning mid-tournament that he is to face a trial on rape charges in France.

The reigning African footballer of the year stormed forward from right-back at every opportunity and was in the right place to equalise on 39 minutes.

In his final game for Haiti, 38-year-old goalkeeper Johny Placide could only parry Bilal El Khannouss’s strike, and Hakimi had a simple task to force the ball over the line.

Within four minutes, though, Haiti had restored their lead in far more spectacular fashion.

Sunderland striker Isidor pounced on a loose ball and let fly from outside the area with a shot that arrowed into the top corner.

Hakimi and Ouahbi were visibly angered by conceding for a second time, but the 2022 World Cup semifinalists responded before half-time.

Saibari stroked home his third goal of the tournament with a cool finish from Hakimi’s low cross.

Brahim Diaz nearly gave Morocco a half-time lead when his curling effort shaved the post to end a thrilling first half.

With Brazil cruising to victory over Scotland  in Miami, Morocco knew that only a comprehensive victory would secure them the top spot in Group C.

Ouahbi began turning his attention to the last 32, as Bayern Munich-bound Saibari and Real Madrid’s Diaz were replaced with more than 20 minutes remaining.

But two of his substitutes came on to win the game for Morocco.

Rahimi’s powerful strike from a corner flew into the top corner via a deflection off a desperate Haiti defender.

He then turned provider by robbing possession on the Haiti byline and crossing for Yassine to roll into an empty net.

(Aljazeera)

Brazil advanced to ⁠the knockout stages of the World Cup in style after Vinicius Junior netted twice in a 3-0 win  over Scotland in their final Group C match, while ⁠Neymar also made his first appearance in a Brazil shirt in three years.

The victory on Wednesday came at a full house in Miami Stadium, where 64,478 fans watched Carlo Ancelotti’s side top the group with seven points, ⁠while Morocco finished second with a 4-2 win over Haiti.

Vinicius has scored in every game so far, and the 25-year-old has four goals in the tournament to find himself in elite company, level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, and sitting just one goal behind Lionel Messi.

Scotland boss Stephen Clark said he expected Brazil to ‌attack from the outset, and the South Americans needed seven minutes to go 1-0 up when Scott McKenna failed to clear the ball, allowing Rayan to nick it and find Vinicius unmarked.

As goalkeeper Angus Gunn scrambled to stop him, the Real Madrid forward simply took one touch to move the ball past him and tap it into an empty net as the fans in yellow erupted.

Brazil nearly made it 2-0 just before the first hydration break, when Vinicius nicked the ball off Jack Hendry ⁠to score, but Scotland earned a reprieve after a VAR check, and the ⁠goal was overturned by the referee for a foul by the Brazilian.

That remained the theme in the first half, with Brazil being more combative to win the ball back, while Scotland failed to capitalise on set-pieces – the only time they had opportunities to ⁠score – as they finished the half with no shots on target.

Brazil’s second goal was a dagger to Scotland’s hearts on the stroke of half-time, when, once ⁠again, they won the ball high up the pitch and Bruno ⁠Guimaraes crossed the ball to the far post, where a grateful Vinicius headed home his second.

In the second half, Brazil pressed for a third goal, and it came with another scything move through the midfield as Guimaraes grabbed his second assist, dancing into the ‌box before setting up Matheus Cunha for his third goal of the tournament.

But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Neymar, as Ancelotti brought the 34-year-old on for his first appearance in a ‌Brazil ‌shirt since October 2023.

(Aljazeera)

Sri Lanka finally got their combinations right at the Women’s T20 World Cup and produced a commanding display to thrash Ireland by nine wickets with 27 balls to spare in Bristol on Tuesday. The emphatic victory has kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Chamari Atapattu had cut a dejected figure after the defeat to West Indies, where a dramatic batting collapse all but derailed Sri Lanka’s campaign. Even after producing a historic hundred against Ireland, the captain admitted that the missed opportunity against the Caribbean side still hurt.

“We know we wasted a golden opportunity. Had we got a decent total, it would have been a different story as we had the bowling to contain them,” Chamari told reporters.

It was her fourth T20I hundred and the first by a Sri Lankan in a Women’s World Cup. While delighted to reach another personal milestone, Chamari was still unable to hide her disappointment at not finishing the job against West Indies.

Against Ireland, however, was some statement. Sri Lanka raced to 50 inside five overs and remarkably Chamari had scored 46 of those runs. She remained unbeaten on 106 off just 61 deliveries, peppering the boundary with 17 fours and launching two towering sixes into the stands.

It was vintage Chamari, fearless and utterly ruthless. More often than not, when the skipper gets going, Sri Lanka end up on the winning side.

The team has now moved to Manchester, where they will play their final group game against Scotland on Friday. To sneak into the semi-finals, Sri Lanka need a convincing win and must hope West Indies lose their remaining two matches while New Zealand are beaten by England in their last group fixture.

Rex Clementine in Bristol