Morocco overcame Canada to top Group F and reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.
The Atlas Lions, whose last trip to the last 16 came in 1986, finished above 2018 finalists Croatia, while Belgium – ranked second in the world – crashed out after finishing third in the group.
A tougher test awaits in the next round as they take on 2010 champions Spain on Tuesday (15:00 GMT).
Morocco took the lead after just four minutes courtesy of Milan Borjan’s goalkeeping hauler.
The Canadian keeper was out of his goal but laid the ball straight to Hakim Ziyech, who coolly finished from 30 yards into an open net.
The North African side doubled their advantage through a fine goal by Youssef N. Neisseri as he controlled Achraf Hakimi’s superb pass before firing over.
But sloppy defending gave Canada a way back into the game when West Ham’s Knif Egward booted out to turn the ball into his own net – the 100th goal scored at this World Cup.
Knowing they would go through if they avoided defeat, Morocco were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure in the second period.
But Atiba Hutchinson came close with a header that rattled the crossbar and dropped down on the line as Canada’s campaign ended without a point.
Morocco march on
Morocco did not win a single game at the last World Cup in Russia but have turned on the style this time around, becoming only the second African team to do so after Senegal.
Cameroon take on Brazil (19:00 GMT) in the final round of group fixtures on Friday and Ghana take on Uruguay to determine whether they can qualify for the continent’s final four.
Morocco manager Waleed Regargai has a squad full of players with big-game experience.
Chelsea’s Zech, who has been on fire for his club, found form for his country and grabbed the opener, gifted to him by Borjan.
Hakimi and N Nesri, regular scorers in the Champions League, combined for the second when the Sevilla player broke up the Paris Saint-Germain full-back’s pinpoint pass.
He could have had a second but a superb volley was ruled out for offside.
Before the game, Morocco had kept a clean sheet in six matches, five of them under Regargai, but that record ended when Aguirre poked into his own net before the break.
Canada found a way back in the second half and although Hutchinson came close with a header that hit the woodwork, they were unable to get a shot on target in the match.
Starman Alphonso Davies stabbed at one point, meaning his side have now lost all six of their World Cup games, a feat only achieved by El Salvador.
