2018 World Cup: Portugal 1-0 Morocco - As It Happened

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Wednesday Jun 20, 2018. 15:54

Welcome to LIVE coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Portugal and Morocco from Stadion Luzhiniki in Moscow, Russia.

Starting line-ups:

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Pepe, Raphael, Fonte, Ronaldo, J. Moutinho, J. Mario, Bernardo, William, Guedes, Cedric

Morocco: El Kajaoui, Hakimi, Da Costa, Benatia, Ziyach, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Bouatib, Boussoufa, N. Amrabat, Dirar

Commentary (press F5 to refresh):
All times CAT

90+5' - It is over in Moscow, Portugal beat Morocco 1-0. It is over for the North Africans, they are first to fall in this year's tournament.

90+5' - One minute to go for Morocco to score an equaliser.

90+5' - Caution for Silva

90+5' - We are in the 90th minute and Morocco are yet to score, it doesn't look good for the Atlas Lions, losing here means their dream is over.

88’ - Sub – Moutinho off for Adrien Silva

85' - Sub - Fajr comes on for El Ahmadi

85' - Free kick for Portugal on the edge of the area, Benatia is the culprit. Ronaldo's effort hits the wall

80' - Ziyach using his pace down the left flank and wins a corner for the North Africans, but Portugal clears.

75' - Sub - Carcela replaces Belhanda

73' - Rui Patricio is collecting every ball that is launched into his penalty area.

70’ Sub - Mario off for Fernandes

69’ Sub - El Kaabi for Boutaib

65'- No changes on the scoreline, Portugal 1-0 Morocco and 25 minutes left to play.

60’ - Benatia gets a chance in the box, Morocco wasting chances, the defender blasts over the cross bar.

59' Sub - Martins on for Bernardo

55’ - Ronaldo is unmarked in the box, but fails to lower his effort. Morocco takes a shot through Younes Belhanda but it goes straight to Rui Patricio.

50’ - No clear cut chances so far for either side, Morocco must get a win to keep their place in the tournament.

46' - Second half gets underway

45+1' - Half time in Moscow. Portugal 1-0 Morocco

45’ - It looks like Portugal will go to the interval leading 1-0 whilst the North Africans are chasing an equaliser. Three minutes added.

40’ – Caution - Benatia booked for a foul on Ronaldo

35' - Morocco conceded a foul on the edge of the area, but the wall did its job to block Ronaldo’s effort.

30’ - Morocco protest for a penalty, Herve Renard told to calm down as he called for VAR intervention. Morocco still attacking Portugal.

25’ - Benatia fouls Ronaldo, free kick to Portugal and no booking for the defender.

20’- Third corner for the Atlas Lions but they are yet to benefit from them, it is cleared by Ronaldo. Good football by Morocco so far.

15’ - Morocco doing well moving forward in search of an equaliser, Portugal remain solid at the back. Portugal 1-0 Morocco

10’ - Ronaldo nearly bags his brace, his shot goes narrowly wide and Boussoufa’s corner also goes wide across the goal.

04’ - GOAL - Ronaldo scores for Portugal, great cross delivered into the box by Moutinho, the skipper finishes.

01' - Kickoff

Portugal will want to bag their first win in Group B after opening with a 3-3 thrilling draw against Spain last Friday.

For the North Africans, they will want to earn their second win over Portugal at the World Cup, but their first in the group after losing 1-0 to Iran.