Morocco rewrite history with victory over Portugal

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Dec 10, 2022. 19:30

Morocco achieved a historic feat after they beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.

Youssef En-Nesyri scored the only goal of the game on 42 minutes as the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s history.

Walid Regragui’s side came into the encounter having conceded just one goal and going unbeaten in their opening four matches, while the Selecao were brimming with confidence after thrashing Switzerland 6-1 in the last 16.

Fernando Santos’ men had the lion’s share of the possession in the first half, although Morocco created the better chances in front of a partisan crowd, the majority of them supporting the North Africans.

Portugal threatened after just five minutes though, as Joao Felix forced Yassine Bounou to tip his diving header around the right post from a free-kick on the right.

En-Nesyri was relieved to see the offside flag go up two minutes later when he directed a free header over the crossbar from just a few yards out after getting on the end of a corner.

Hakim Ziyech tried his luck from 20 yards out after cutting inside from the right and drifting past two defenders but the Chelsea winger dragged his shot wide of the right post on 18 minutes.

En-Nesyri was guilty of missing the target once more on 26 minutes when he climbed highest to send another free header over the bar from a free-kick, while at the other end Felix saw his first-time shot deflected narrowly over the goal by Jawad El Yamiq on 31 minutes.

Sofiane Boufal drew a routine save out of Diogo Costa with a low strike from outside the area on 36 minutes before Felix went close again for the Portuguese in the 39th minute as he flicked the ball over the bar from Raphael Guerreiro’s cross on the left.

En-Nesyri finally found his mark with at the third time of asking on 42 minutes, leaping high into the air to head home Yahia Attiyat Allah’s cross from the left to break the deadlock.

Portugal almost found an instant reply as Bruno Fernandes hit the bar with an instinctive shot from a tight angle on the right in the final minute of the half after latching onto Diogo Dalot’s flick-on.

El Yamiq had the first sniff at goal in the second half as he drew a sharp save out of Costa at close range after connecting with a free-kick from the right on 49 minutes.

However, Morocco began to drop deeper and deeper as the half progressed and Goncalo Ramos directed a header over the target from 12 yards out after Otavio’s cross found him in space on 58 minutes.

Fernandes then blazed an effort inches over the bar from the edge of the box on 64 minutes after being fed by Bernardo Silva and Felix was denied by a superb save from Bounou on 83 minutes, having struck Cristiano Ronaldo’s layoff on the edge of the area sweetly towards the top-right corner of the net.

The Atlas Lions dropped to five at the back late on to repel Portugal, who swung in cross after cross as their desperation grew and Bounou was called into action again in the first minute of stoppage time to prevent Ronaldo from equalising after he latched onto a through-ball just outside the box.

The Selecao were given a glimmer of hope moments later when substitute Walid Cheddira was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession but Pepe wasted a golden opportunity to force extra-time after heading wide at the back post from close range in the 97th minute.

Morocco (1) 1 (En-Nesyri 42′)

Portugal (0) 0

Morocco: Y. Bounou, A. Hakimi, J. El Yamiq, R. Saiss (A. Dari 57′), Y. Attiat-Allah, A. Ounahi, S. Amrabat, S. Amallah (W. Cheddira 65′), H. Ziyech (Z. Aboukhlal 82′), S. Boufal (Y. Jabrane 82′), Y. En-Nesyri (B. Benoun 65′).

Portugal: D. Costa, D. Dalot (R. Horta 79′), Pepe, R. Dias, R. Guerreiro (J. Cancelo 51′), B. Silva, R. Neves (C. Ronaldo 51′), Otavio (Vitinha 69′), B. Fernandes, J. Felix, G. Ramos (R. Leao 69′).