France thrashes Morocco to advance to quarter-finals

SYDNEY, Aug 8: France advances to the quarter-finals after an exhilarating match against Morocco, as it shuts down the Cinderella story of Morocco in a blowout win.

Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali and Eugenie Le Sommer each scored a piece within the 25th minute of the match, putting the contenders up 3-0 before half-time. Le Sommer added another one in the 70th minute of the regular time.

Morocco - the first Arab nation to compete at the finals - claimed a shock second place in Group H ahead of two-time winners Germany, who had beaten them 6-0 in their opening game.

Morocco had been hoping to become the first African side to win a knockout match at the Women's World Cup. A second upset against unbeaten France though was a step too far.

France will now face Australia in the last eight in Brisbane on Saturday.

(BBC)