Youssef En-Nesyri’s header nodded Morocco to a shock 1-0 win over Portugal to qualify for semi-finals of 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Following a competitive opening 41 minutes, En-Nesyri headed Morocco ahead at the break from Yahia Attiyat-Allah’s 42nd minute cross.
Morocco thereafter defended hard throughout the second half to secure a maiden semi-final appearance at a World Cup, even despite Walid Cheddira’s red card for a second bookable offence in injury-time.
Morocco/Portugal will now await the winner of England’s Quarter-Final tie against France in the semi-finals on Wednesday 14 December, which will be played at Al Bayt Stadium at 10pm AST local time (7pm GMT UK Time).
Despite having made two changes from their shock Round of 16 win over Spain due to injuries for Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui, Morocco quickly settled into their usual defensive pressing style of play as Portugal swiftly dominated possession.
Attiyat-Allah though produced the first decent chance of the game as Morcco broke on a sixth minute counter-attack, only for his shot to be deflected and En-Nesyri headed the following corner wide.
Portugal meanwhile continued to dominate possession but lacked a cutting-edge end product in the first half, as Morocco created the more clear-cut chances in which Hakim Ziyech and En-Neysri both fired wide.
Jawad El Yamiq meanwhile blocked Joao Felix’s 31st minute shot before Selim Amallah four minutes later wasted a chance to put Morocco ahead, as he fired over the bar from a short cross.
Felix then volleyed over for Portugal in the 39th minute as both teams began to chase a breakthrough goal before half-time.
That crucial first goal ultimately fell to Morocco as Attiyat-Allah whipped in a cross three minutes from the break, which En-Neysri nodded in from close range to put the Moroccans on course to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Portugal responded with two early changes in the second half as Joao Cancelo and Cristiano Ronaldo replaced Raphael Guerreiro and Ruben Neves respectively, amidst continued struggles to break down Morocco’s well-drilled defence.
Azzedine Ounahi meanwhile proceeded to almost extend Morocco’s lead in the 56th minute but he fired over from En-Nesyri’s lay-off on a counter-attack.
Goncalo Ramos and Bruno Fernandes then both saw chances go wide as Portugal’s relentless attacks contantly were met by a stubborn Moroccan defence.
Morocco substitute, Cheddira fired wide in a 75th minute counter-attack amidst continued pressure from Portugal, who continued to grow desperate for an equaliser.
Yassine Bounou who has been excellent across this tournament in Morocco’s goal made a crucial block as he flicked Joao Felix’s 83rd minute shot towards top-left corner behind, with the consequential set piece cleared much to Portugal’s chagrin at their continued struggles to find the equalising goal.
Morocco however were reduced to ten men in injury-time after Cheddira was red carded for a second bookable offence, following his reckless tackle on Joao Felix.
Portugal eventually were unable to benefit from their extra one-man advantage as Morocco clung on to seal their first semi-final appearance at a World Cup, which also marked the first time that an African team has reached the last four of this competition.
Fernando Santos’ Portugal meanwhile were left devastated at the full-time whistle, whilst Ronaldo sulked off to the dressing room in tears in what is likely to be his final World Cup appearance.
Morocco will now face either England or France in the semi-final on Wednesday 14 December at Al Bayt Stadium in a 10pm AST (7pm GMT) kick-off.
Teams
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Jawad El Yamiq, Romain Saiss (Dari 57′), Yahia Attiyat-Allah, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah (Cheddira 65′), Hakim Ziyech (Aboukhlal 82′), Youssef En-Nesyri (Benoun 65′), Sofiane Boufal (Jabrane 82′)
Substitutes: Abderrazak Hamdallah, Anass Zaroury, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Munir Mohamedi, Ilias Chair, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Abde Ezzalzouli, Achraf Dari, Walid Cheddira, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Bilal El Khannous, Badr Benoun, Yahya Jabrane
Portugal: Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot (Horta 79′), Pepe, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro (Cancelo 51′), Otavio (Vitinha 69′), Ruben Neves (Ronaldo 51′), Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos (Leao 69′)
Substitutes: Rui Patricio, Joao Palhinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Silva, Jose Sa, William Carvalho, Rafael Leao, Vitinha, Joao Mario, Joao Cancelo, Ricardo Horta, Matheus Nunes, Antonio Silva
Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
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