Morocco players and staff pose for a photograph after the World Cup win against Portugal because the team progresses to the semi finals.
Paul Childs | Reuters
Morocco wrote World Cup history on Saturday night as the primary African and Arab country to achieve the tournament’s semi-finals, continuing their surprise run in Qatar with a shock 1-0 victory over the highly fancied Portugal.
Youssef En-Nesyri leapt high within the air to move home the sport’s only goal just before half-time on the Al-Thumama Stadium to strike a big blow against football’s established order and book a semi-final on Wednesday against either England or France, who meet in a while Saturday.
The result will likely be widely celebrated across Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, eager to see certainly one of their teams in contention for the largest prize in football.
Morocco had already taken the scalps of Belgium and Spain on this tournament however the win over Portugal is of much greater significance.
It was also certainly one of Morocco’s higher performances in Qatar, stuffed with determined defending and canny counters, keeping at bay a set of world stars despite losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury before the match and his back 4 partner and captain Romain Saiss early within the second half.
Portugal will see it as a missed opportunity against the lowest-ranked side left within the tournament and a disappointing curtain call for the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
Morocco, again noisily encouraged by nearly all of the 44,198-strong crowd, said they were fatigued after their last-16 success over Spain and immediately went into defensive mode as Portugal attacked from the outset.
A fourth-minute free kick for Portugal from wide on the suitable was swung into the penalty area, and met by Joao Felix’s diving header, producing a wonderful save from Yassine Bounou.
But the availability quickly dried up thereafter as Morocco closed the passing lanes and frustrated the Portuguese attackers.
Joao Felix had two more half possibilities in the primary half but Morocco gained in confidence and located a sudden spring of their step, incessantly breaking on the counterattack.
Surging
Left back Yahya Attiat-Allah made several surging runs down the flank, presenting Selim Amallah with an excellent likelihood within the thirty fifth minute, which he was unable to convert.
But seven minutes later, a high ball from the fullback into the Portuguese box was met by a towering header from En-Nesyri, outjumping each goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias at hand Morocco the lead.
Portuguese frustration was evident as they swarmed the Argentine referee Facundo Tello at the top of the primary half, complaining that several penalty appeals had been turned down.
Morocco got here near a second goal 4 minutes into the second half as Jawad El Yamiq got a touch to Hakim Ziyech’s in-swinging free kick but Costa was in place this time to dam.
Ronaldo’s entry within the 51st minute was met with a loud chorus of jeers, but he did inject recent energy into the Portugal side for whom Goncalo Ramos, the hat-trick hero of their 6-1 win over Switzerland within the previous round, missed with a close-in header within the 58th minute.
Bruno Fernandes hit excessive of the crossbar five minutes later as Portugal threw more into attack and Morocco began to take a seat deeper. Bounou saved again from Joao Felix with seven minutes left.
Morocco’s Walid Cheddira was sent off in stoppage time after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.
But his side, to the delight of their raucous support, held out for a famous victory.
