Morocco have created history as they become the first African side to make a World Cup semi final with a 1-0 win over Portugal who threw everything, including one of the world’s best players at them in the second half, and had to do it with ten players for the final few minutes.
Quarter Final Portugal v Morocco Match Review
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
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0′ Min Again the big question was if Cristiano Ronaldo would start, although it was less of a surprise this time to see Gonçalo Ramos starting ahead of the footballing superstar, given that Gonçalo Ramos is scoring at a faster rate than Charlie Sheen at a toga party.
4′ Min Early chance for Portugal as a cross from a free kick as met with the diving head of Joao Felix and the low header produces a fine save from Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou. The subsequent corner was well cleared by Morocco.
6′ Min Corner for Morocco and an early chance for them too. Perhaps this game will be more open that first dreaded. Youssef En-Nesyri was the player to get a free header and his shot only just went over the crossbar.
8′ Min The crowd seem quite one sided for the Portugal v Morocco, with Morocco the favorued side. It’s all good though, as their vuvuzela-like constant whistling every time Portugal are in possession allows you to know when Portugal have the ball without looking up. Very convenient.
12′ Min From a free kick, which drew a few whistles around the ground, Portugal saw a decent shot on goal saved again by the Moroccan keeper.
20′ Min Hakim Ziyech is starting to look very lively now. He’s had a couple of shots on goal and forced a corner. Good to see him at full flight, when so often he is wasted at Chelsea.
22′ Min No mid-air collision is a good thing, and the same applied for Bruno Fernandes and Yassine Bounou who collided while Portugal had sent in an attacking cross in the penalty area. No black box was required because against the trend of World Cup football both stayed on their feet.
24′ Min Another good chance for Morocco, and it has to be said, another chance wasted by Youssef En-Nesyri who gets another free header from a Hakim Ziyech free kick. Morocco can’t keep wasting chances a
30′ Min Wow, Joao Felix really is trying to find himself a new club for next season, we mean win this game for Portugal. Another shot is blasted towards goal but a deflection takes it over the crossbar. He misses again in the 40th minute
34′ Min Morocco are certainly having a proper go here, and another half chance is wasted by Selim Amalla. But like a parent counting down from three to halt a mid supermarket shop tantrum, Morocco may regret not taking their chances when offered.
42′ Min GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR MOROCCO
And Youssef En-Nesyri does finally put that head to good use as he meets a fine cross from wide out by Yahia Attiyat Allah, under pressure from the Portugal defence and goalkeeper in the six yard box, and glances it into the net for the first goal of the match. A sensational lead for the underdogs here, and they could make it a very ordinary quarter finals series for Portuguese speaking football teams.
PORTUGAL 0 MOROCCO 1
44′ Min Bruno Fernandes takes a shot from the edge of the box on a tight angle and the ball slams into the crossbar. The keeper was beaten, Portugal were inches away from a quick equaliser.
45 +2 Min Morocco go close to doubling their lead just before the break, with a counter attack that ended with a Yahia Attiyat Allah at the near post which probably should have been better.
The actual half time whistle goes off, rather the the entire first half whistles from Moroccan fans, and their team Morocco lead 1-0 which they deserve of course, but Portugal have had their chances too. Perhaps it is a stage set up for one of football’s biggest names to take the side he’s been dropped from into the semi finals. The Poortugal players also angrily surround the referee at half time. Perhaops they prefer the other whistles.
HALF TIME – PORTUGAL 0 MOROCCO 1
47′ Min Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi goes on a super run down the right which is ended with a Portuguese foul. The danger though is not over as Hakim Ziyech gets another free kick in range of the goal, and once again supplies a magic cross in and opportunity. which the Portuguese keeper fumbles and is so lucky that the follow up from a charging Moroccan player goes just wide of the post.
50′ Min Portugal are certainly worried about the 1-0 deficit, and the the form of Morocco it has to be said, as on comes Ronaldo to save the day.
56′ Min Half chances at either end as this game has appeared to pick up even more energy since Ronaldo came onto the field. Portugal though, will have to defy a Moroccan defence which has conceded just one goal this tournament.
63′ Min Bruno Fernandes goes so close for Portugal again. His shot only just clearing the crossbar, but the frustration is building. Is it time for Morocco to park a freight train in front of goal to complete the Portuguese misery?
65′ Min A poor free kick from Portugal shows the stress they’re under. Where are you Ronaldo?
70′ Min Free kick to Portugal in dangerous territory after Morocco’s Achraf Dari acts like a drunk driver and wipes out Rafael Leão close to the goal line out towards the corner. Achraf Dari sees yellow. A wonderfully taken free kick sees Fernandes go along the ground instead of aerial and Bernardo Silva was onto to it too, but couldn’t make the right contact. Still Portugal try and fail to break down Morocco.
74′ Min There’s more corners coming for Portugal here than an F1 street circuit and like Ferrari in the 2022 championship Portugal are throwing away a golden opportunity despite all their pedigree and horsepower.
75′ Min And a counter attack from Morocco nearly pulls down Portugal’s pants. They look quite vulnerable to it as well, with so much attack on their mind.
81′ Min Morocco have officially given up on wanting to score anymore goals as Bouffal and Ziyech are removed from action, and we presume a few more carriages added to that freight train. And who could blame Morocco.
82′ Min What a save from the Moroccan keeper. A quick exchange of passes that surprisingly includes Ronaldo sees Joao Felix launch a cracking, curling shot towards the top left corner of the goal, but somehow it is tipped away. Yassine Bounou is having a blinder, and he needs to.
87′ Min It’s getting desperate here for Portugal, they are unable to crack Morocco despite corners, and an international buffet of possession. The joy is building for Morocco fans too, they can taste the historic moment of being the first African team into a World Cup semi final.
90′ Min There’s the chance for Ronaldo to win this. He gets a shot at the Moroccan goal from a counter attack but hits it straight at the keeper, which isn’t a high percentage strategy given how hard he has been to beat.
There’s eight minutes of added time to come.
90 +2′ Min SENT OFF – Recently arrived Walid Cheddira has quickly received his second yellow card and is given his marching orders. Moroccan will need to defend the six or so remaining minutes of added time with 10 players.
90 +4′ Min Another corner for Portugal, and same result. But the ball stays in the Moroccan half long enough for a Cancelo cross to miss everyone and go for a goal kick. Valuable time for Morocco to waste, and edge closer to a big upset.
90 +5′ Min And Morocco break away and are one on one with the Portuguese keeper to seal the win and the shot is blocked.
90 +7′ Min Pepe heads wide from a cross, and that didn’t miss by much, but enough for Morocco who will wind down this clock like a disgruntled employee an hour before Friday drinks.
Full time whistle blows and it is a sensational victory for Morocco, defying the odds, and a star studded Portugal side to advance to the semi finals.
Final Score
PORTUGAL 0
MOROCCO 1
Youssef En-Nesyri 42′
HT Morocco 1-0
Player of the Match
Yassine Bounou or Hakim Ziyech
Quarter Final Portugal v Morocco Starting Teams
PORTUGAL (4-3-3)
22 Diogo Costa
2 Dalot
3 Pepe
4 Rúben Dias
5 Guerreiro
10 Bernardo Silva
18 Neves
25 Otávio
8 Bruno Fernandes
26 Gonçalo Ramos
11 João Félix
MOROCCO (4-3-3)
1 Bono
2 Hakimi
18 El Yamiq
6 Saïss
2 5Attiat-Allah
8 Ounahi
4 S Amrabat
15 Amallah
7 Ziyech
19 En-Nesyri
17 Boufal
Quarter Final Portugal v Morocco Match Stats
