The Moroccan team had to play with 10 players for the last six minutes of injury time in the second half, but the world number nine Portugal’s team could not take advantage of this.
Afro-Arab country Morocco has reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time by defeating football giants Portugal. Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday after Youssef N Nesri’s header beat Portugal 1-0 in the dying minutes despite playing with 10 men.
Morocco’s defense stood firm in the quarter-finals
The team’s defense stood firm even in the quarter-finals against Portugal, which was led by goalkeeper Yassin Bonneau. In the semi-finals, Morocco will now face the winner of the quarter-final match between former champions England and defending champions France on 15 December. After this defeat of Portugal, it is almost certain that Cristiano Ronaldo, the only player in the world to score goals in five World Cups, will never be able to lift the World Cup trophy. This 37-year-old player is probably playing his last World Cup.
22nd number team Morocco showed amazing
Previously, Cameroon made it to the last eight in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010, but none of the three teams reached the semi-finals. The team has conceded only one goal during their campaign so far and that too against Canada by an own goal.
Youssef N Nesri scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute for world number 22 Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium. This was Morocco’s first goal in a World Cup knockout. Morocco was the only team from outside Europe or South America to reach the last eight in Qatar. Morocco is the first African country to make it to the semi-finals of the football tournament.
The inclusion of Gonzalo Ramos in the team cost Portugal
The Portuguese team made a brisk start in the match and tried to dominate. The team got its advantage in the form of a free kick in the fourth minute, but Joao Felix failed to beat Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bonou with his header.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos once again named 21-year-old Gonzalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick in the pre-quarter-finals against Switzerland, in the starting XI in place of five-time ‘World Footballer of the Year’ Ronaldo, but he was left to disappoint. Touched
Youssef N Nesri scored the first goal
Yusuf N Nesri bounced the ball that came in front of the goalkeeper and put a header in the goal. Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa tried to stop Youssef N Nesri, but the Moroccan player turned out to be faster than him.
Portugal made another move from the left end in the 13th minute. Ruben Neves passed the ball towards Rafael Guerreiro but Ramos failed to control his sharp shot.
Meanwhile, Morocco also made some moves but the team could not get success in scoring. Felix’s move was cleared by Azedine Onahi but could not prevent Portugal from earning a corner. Bruno Fernandes takes a corner, but the Moroccan defense foils the attack. Morocco then changed the course of the match and counterattacked and made a brilliant move from the left end in the 42nd minute.