Morocco advances in Houston's final World Cup match

• The game was scoreless at halftime before Azzedine Ounahi scored twice. A late goal sealed Morocco's victory and sent the Atlas Lions to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive World Cup. Morocco will face France on Thursday in Boston.

What they're saying: Fans came from Canada, Morocco, Dubai and across the U.S. — Morocco's national airline even added a dozen speciality flights to Houston. But for many local Moroccan fans, it was their first opportunity to cheer on their favorite team at a World Cup without leaving home.

• "It's amazing. It's a dream come true for me. I've never watched the World Cup live before — never had the opportunity," Adam Salah, from Houston, tells Axios.
• Yassine Keetani, a Houstonian from Morocco, says, "It's kind of crazy" to see his team in Houston. "It was so much fun — the atmosphere, all of it."
• "Being able to just watch them win, close to home and enjoy the experience with fellow fans, it's great," says Tony Hall, who says his family is from Morocco.

The bottom line: It was a fun run as Houston Stadium transformed into a memorable stage for World Cup matches.