Morocco went top of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group with an empathic 6-0 victory over Mali at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on Friday night.
The win takes Morocco to five points from three matches in Group C, one point above second-placed Cote d’Ivoire who are in action against Gabon on Saturday.
Gabon are third in Group C with two points from two matches while Mali are last with one point from three games.
Morocco took control of the tie from the opening whistle and made their pressure tell with the game’s first goal in the 19th minute when Hakim Ziyech found the back of the net.
Morocco doubled their lead eight minutes later when Khalid Boutaib slotted the ball home with a clinical finish.
Mali did not offer much in attack and defended with all their might to go into the break only trailing by two goals.
Any chance of a fightback from Mali were dealt a massive blow in the 57th minute when they were reduced to ten men following the sending off of Bakaye Dibassy after receiving a second yellow card.
On the hour mark Hakim Ziyech put the result beyond doubt with his second goal of the night and his country’s third.
Matters went from bad to worse for the visiting Mali when they were reduced to nine men following the sending off of Mohamed Konate in the 67th minute after his second booking as well.
The icing on the cake for Morocco was their fourth goal, scored by Achraf Hakimi in the 72nd minute.
Mali tried to defend as best they could after that with their nine men, but they could not finish the night without conceding two more goals – substitutes Faycal Fajr and Mimoun Mahi scoring for Morocco in the 86th and 89 th minutes respectively.
Morocco (2) 6 (Ziyech 19’ + 61’, Boutaib 27’, Hakimi 72’, Fajr 86’, Mahi 89’)
Mali (0) 0
Morocco:Munir, Amrabat (Tannane 74’), Belhanda, Benatia, Boussoufa, Boutaib (Mahi 80’), Dirar, El Ahmadi (Fajr 85’), Hakimi, Saiss, Ziyech.
Mali:Sissoko, Wague, Dibassy, Traore, Kouame (Kone 64’), Bissouma (Couilbaly 78’), Diaby (Doumbia 66’), Konate, Marega, N’Diaye, Sylla.
