Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the second half as Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston to book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Morocco, semifinalists in Qatar four years ago, had been second best during the first half as Canadian-born goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi early on.

Girona midfielder Ounahi eventually broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when he swept in a low shot following a well-worked free-kick and then added a late second on the break before Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time to make sure of a place in the last eight against either France or Paraguay.

Canada -- with star man Alphonso Davies again on the bench -- had started brightly as Jonathan David's angled effort from an early corner was palmed away by Morocco keeper Bounou, who then produced a fine reaction save after Tani Oluwaseyi had burst into the penalty area.

Morocco -- runners-up to Brazil in their group and then having come through a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands -- were forced into a change after 22 minutes when Ismael Saibari, who has just completed a move to Bayern Munich, went off and was replaced by Rahimi.

The Atlas Lions, on an unbeaten run of 33 matches, finally registered an effort on goal shortly after the hydration break, with Rahimi's long-range shot gathered by Canada keeper Maxime Crépeau.

Having been second best for most of the first half, Morocco broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when Ounahi swept the ball into the bottom corner after captain Achraf Hakimi had rolled a free-kick from the right to the edge of the Canada penalty area.

Canada, who had progressed through to the knockout stages for the first time, went close when David clipped a free-kick over from the edge of the penalty area before Bounou -- born in Montreal, then raised in Casablanca -- made another fine save to tip away a dipping long-range effort from Tajon Buchanan.

Morocco avoided any late drama as Ounahi fired home with eight minutes left after being fed by Brahim Díaz following a swift counter attack. Rahimi saw his header crash against the crossbar before then sweeping in a third following another breakaway during stoppage time.