Morocco stun Portugal to make World Cup history

Quarter-final

Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Morocco extended their dream run at the World Cup as they out-thought and out-fought Portugal in a 1-0 win to become the first ever African country to reach the semi-finals thanks to a towering headed goal from Youssef En-Nesyri.

En-Nesyri leapt high in the air to head home the game’s only goal just before half-time at the Al-Thumama Stadium to strike a significant blow against football’s established order and book a semi-final on Wednesday.

Morocco had already taken the scalps of Belgium and Spain in this tournament but the win over Portugal is of much greater significance.

It was also one of Morocco’s better performances in Qatar, full of determined defending and canny counters, keeping at bay a collection of world stars despite losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury before the match and his back four partner and captain Romain Saiss early in the second half.

Portugal will see it as a missed opportunity against the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament and a disappointing curtain call for the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

Morocco, again noisily encouraged by the majority 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 right was swung into the penalty area, and met by Joao Felix’s diving header, producing a fine save from Yassine Bounou.

But the supply quickly dried up thereafter as Morocco closed the passing lanes and frustrated the Portuguese attackers.

Joao Felix had two more half chances in the first half but Morocco gained in confidence and found a sudden spring in their step, frequently breaking on the counter attack.

Left back Yahya Attiat-Allah made several surging runs down the flank, presenting Selim Amallah with a good chance in the 35th 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 both goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to hand Morocco the lead.

Portuguese frustration was evident as they swarmed the Argentine referee Facundo Tello at the end of the first half, complaining that several penalty appeals had been turned down.

Morocco came close to a second goal four 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 block.

Ronaldo’s entry in the 51st minute was met with a loud chorus of jeers, but he did inject a new energy into the Portugal side for whom Goncalo Ramos, the hat-trick hero of their 6-1 win over Switzerland in the previous round, missed with a close-in header in the 58th minute.

Bruno Fernandes hit over the top of the crossbar five minutes later as Portugal threw more into attack and Morocco began to sit 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.

Man of the match: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)

Substitutions:

Morocco

• Achraf Dari replaces Romain Saiss 58 mins
• Walid Cheddira replaces Selim Amallah 65 mins
• Badr Benoun replaces Youssef En-Nesyri 65 mins
• Zakaria Aboukhlal replaces Hakim Ziyech 82 mins
• Yahya Jabrane replaces Sofiane Boufal 82 mins

Portugal

• Joao Cancelo replaces Raphael Guerreiro 51 mins
• Cristiano Ronaldo replaces Ruben Neves 51 mins
• Vitinha replaces Otavio 69 mins
• Rafael Leao replaces Goncalo Ramos 69 mins
• Ricardo Horta replaces Diogo Dalot 80 mins

Yellow cards:

Morocco – Achraf Dari, Walid Cheddira (x2)

Portugal – Vitinha

Red cards:

Morocco – Walid Cheddira

Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)