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What it means to Achraf Hakimi as Morocco near their first-ever Olympic Games semi-final.
PARIS — Soufiane Rahimi, Ilias Akhomach, Achraf Hakimi and Mehdi Maouhoub all scored in Morocco’s 4-0 thrashing of the United States on Friday, sending America packing in the quarterfinals of Olympic soccer.
All four scores set off celebratory flares across packed Parc des Princes, as the decidedly pro-Moroccan crowd delighted in the Atlas Lions’ domination.
Rahimi earned the penalty off a foul by Nathan Harriel in the 29th minute. As he stepped up to take a penalty, U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte guessed correctly, diving to his left, but the pace and precision of the Moroccan’s strike was enough for the score.
Morocco kept up the pressure after intermission as Akhomach, Hakimi and Maouhoub added the finishing touches on a match their side had well in hand.
The Americans’ best chance might have come in the 9th minute when Paxten Aaronson couldn’t redirect a fast-moving cross at close range.
And in the 59th minute, Miles Robinson couldn’t quite wrap his foot around a pass from about 10 yards out.
Morocco ended up controlling 57% of possession and taking eight of the match’s 11 corner kicks, in statistics that belied the winning side’s total domination.
The U.S. appearance in knockout play could be seen as an accomplishment.
The United States was left for dead after a 3-0 thrashing by the hosts French to start the tournament. But the Americans responded with consecutive blowout wins, 4-1 over New Zealand and 3-0 over Guinea.
Americans have never won a men’s soccer medal in the modern era of Olympic soccer. In the 1904 games in St. Louis, club teams played in the tournament and U.S. sides took silver and bronze. They were last in the quarterfinals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Paris was their first time in the Olympics since Beijing in 2008.
