Azzedine Ounahi turned the Round of 16 into his stage in Houston. The Morocco midfielder scored twice in a 3-0 win over Canada at NRG Stadium. He needed just two shots to deliver both goals, a clean and efficient return. The crowd of 68,777 saw him at the heart of Morocco’s best moments.

This was a polished, measured performance, not a rush. Ounahi mixed tidy passing with smart timing in the box. He also found time to create, setting up one big chance and adding a key pass. Referee Michael Oliver oversaw a match where Ounahi handled the traffic calmly.

Clinical finishing, smart positioning

Ounahi’s brace came from two shots on target, both ending in the net. His expected goals sat at 0.23, which underlines how sharp the finishing was. Expected goals on target climbed to 1.43, showing the quality of those strikes once they left his boot. For a midfielder, converting both efforts reads like a textbook night.

He kept the ball moving too, with 65 touches and 33 completed passes from 42 attempts. That included 22 of 25 passes in Morocco’s half and 11 of 17 in Canada’s half. He also connected on his only cross and went 2 of 4 with long balls. Add a big chance created and one key pass, and the end product matched the scoreline.

All-action midfield numbers

Beyond the goals, the Girona FC player filled the stat sheet. He played 87 minutes and showed range with 14 ball carries for 146.3 meters. One of those was a progressive carry covering 42.6 meters, and his best single burst advanced the ball 34.9 meters. It was the kind of carry map you love to explore on Sofascore.

Ounahi offered a bit of everything with and without the ball. He produced three clearances and two ball recoveries. He drew four fouls and committed only one. A composed 1-of-1 on crosses helped Morocco get up the pitch.

Duels, contact, and control

In the duels, it was an honest battle. Ounahi won 6 and lost 7, with three aerial duels going against him. He still found ways to compete, winning two of three listed contests and staying involved across the middle third. The numbers speak to continuous engagement, not shying away from challenges.

There were a few turnovers, as you would expect in knockout tempo. He was dispossessed twice and had three unsuccessful touches. Possession changed hands often, yet he kept choices mostly safe in his own half. With two goals on the board, the trade-off looked more than fair.