Morocco 1-0 Portugal
Magnificent Morocco have done it again!
In this, the World Cup 2022 which keeps delivering, these jubilant scenes were a sight to behold.
Yes, there have been compelling matches whichever way you turn and an atmosphere which has to be heard to be believed.
Yet in a tournament which has constantly delivered, this encounter provided arguably the biggest story of all.
For Morocco have re-written the history books and become the first ever African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Long before this contest concluded, Moroccan fans – who were in the majority, singing and dancing throughout – were in unchartered territory.
Some supporters were even praying they would hold onto the lead given to them two minutes before the break,
So, when the full-time whistle sounded, the only majority Islamic nation left in Qatar, the first Arabian country to host the tournament, were in a land beyond dreamland.
Highlights of the game
Pre-match, Morocco coach Walid Regragui said his felt the support of all African and Arabic people as they aimed to make World Cup history.
They had suffered a huge double blow when West Ham centre-back Nayef Aguerd and Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui were ruled out injured.
Jawad El Yamiq and Yahya Attiat-Allah came into replace them.
The big team news for Portugal was that star man Cristiano Ronaldo was on the bench again, so Goncalo Ramos – who became the first player to score a hat-trick on his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose in 2002 – once more led the line after his hat-trick in the dismantling of Switzerland.
They had been rampant in that match, while Morocco put on a defensive masterclass to keep a clean sheet in two hours of attack versus defence before seeing off Spain.
What would give?
There was just one change from the side that thrashed the Swiss with Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves coming in for William Carvalho.
Early on, the pattern of play went as expected as Joao Felix forced Yassine Bono into a flying save before almost unlocking the Moroccan defence with a first time shot which deflected off El Yamiq and narrowly over the bar.
Then, the moment no-one from Morocco will ever forget, as Attiat-Allah produced a superb cross and Youssef En-Nesyri leapt magnificently to head past a hesitant goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal responded well and were almost level through a piece of individual brilliance by Bruno Fernandes, whose attempt from the tightest of angles would have produced one of the great World Cup goals had it not bounced back off the crossbar.
Into the second period, the question was whether Ronaldo-less Portugal could triumph.
Well, he was called upon just six minutes after the restart to see if they could breach previously rock-solid opponents.
From that moment, in fact from the moment they fell behind, they dominated possession and pushed back the Africans
A Portuguese onslaught was expected and Morocco suffered a further blow when captain Romain Saiss was forced off with injury.
Ramos planted a header wide, Fernandes was close with a superb strike and, in stoppage time, Bono tipped away a curling Felix drive and then, Walid Cheddira received two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds.
Yet all the World Cup highlights remained Moroccan.
Time ticked on and, whatever they tried, they would not be breached.
This was not just turning the Sbotop World Cup betting odds on their head, this was the axis of world football being rocked.
First Spain, now Portugal.
The Atlas Lions have become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Who says they cannot go even further.
Magnificent Morocco have done it again!
Key statistics
Morocco have kept four clean sheets in five games at this World Cup, the most by an African side in a single edition of the tournament.
They are also unbeaten in their last six World Cup matches, their longest-ever streak without defeat in the competition.
En-Nesyri is the first player to score three World Cup goals for Morocco.
This was the third meeting between Morocco and Portugal, all at the World Cup.
Morocco won the first 3-1 in a group stage clash in 1986, before Portugal won 1-0 in the 2018 tournament in a group stage.
What’s next?
England or France await in next Wednesday’s second semi-final in the Al Bayt Stadium.
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