Doha: Morocco turned into the primary African country to achieve the Global Cup semi-finals as Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half purpose sealed a disturbing 1-0 victory over Portugal on Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium.
The Atlas Lions, additionally the primary Arab group to make the remaining 4, added Portugal to their listing of Ecu scalps with a resolute second-half efficiency.
Cristiano Ronaldo has most likely performed his remaining Global Cup fit after making an ineffectual look as a second-half exchange, failing to attain his first knockout-phase purpose on the event.
Morocco took a Forty second-minute lead via En-Nesyri’s header as they got here on strongly overdue within the first length.
Portugal piled at the force after the ruin however an injury-hit Morocco, with out 3 in their 4 first-choice defenders as soon as skipper Romain Saiss used to be compelled off, held on regardless of being decreased to ten males in added time.
The partisan crowd definitely helped the North Africans over the road, even supposing Portugal struggled to create many straight forward possibilities as they misplaced a Global Cup quarter-final for the primary time.
5-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo used to be despatched on early in the second one 1/2 by means of trainer Fernando Santos however may just now not rescue the Euro 2016 winners.
As an alternative it used to be some other well-known day for Morocco, after earlier disillusioned wins over Belgium and Spain, on consequences, in Qatar.
Walid Regragui’s males will face England or holders France within the semi-finals at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.
Morocco will imagine they may be able to topple both of the ones facets, having nonetheless best conceded as soon as at this Global Cup.
Portugal loved the vast majority of ownership within the opening 30 minutes, however Joao Felix’s fifth-minute diving header, stored by means of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, used to be the nearest each side got here to an early purpose.
Morocco at all times seemed unhealthy, regardless that, and Selim Amallah ballooned a shot over and Sofiane Boufal curled instantly at Diogo Costa for the Africans.
– En-Nesyri moves –
It used to be no wonder when Morocco did forge forward in a while ahead of the period.
Portuguese goalkeeper Costa got here for a go from left-back Yahya Attiat-Allah he used to be by no means going to get to and Sevilla striker En-Nesyri did the remainder with a towering header.
Portugal virtually equalised seconds later in impressive model when Bruno Fernandes crashed a bouncing ball from the right-hand facet of the field towards the crossbar.
A loopy little while ahead of half-time additionally noticed Attiat-Allah, best enjoying rather than the injured Noussair Mazraoui, blaze huge after some other speedy counter.
Portugal’s avid gamers had been nonetheless interesting for a penalty after Fernandes threw himself to the bottom underneath force from Achraf Hakimi on the different finish.
Morocco virtually doubled their benefit 4 mins after the restart as Costa on the subject of controlled to stop Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick from the correct from flying the entire manner in.
Santos wasted little time in summoning for his captain, sending on Ronaldo and Joao Cancelo within the 51st minute.
Morocco, already with out injured defenders Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd, had been dealt some other blow when Saiss used to be stretchered off.
Portugal began to put siege to the opposition purpose and Fernandes got here with regards to levelling once more when he fired narrowly over from the threshold of the field.
Morocco had been in large part preserving Portugal at bay, however Bounou needed to be at his best possible to tip over Felix’s force with 8 mins closing.
8 mins of harm time had been in large part spent with Portugal camped within the Morocco 1/2 and Ronaldo virtually had his second when his low strike used to be saved out by means of Bounou.
Morocco exchange Walid Cheddira used to be harshly despatched off for a moment yellow card within the house of 2 mins.
Zakaria Aboukhlal will have to have put the sport to mattress best to dink instantly at Costa when blank via.
However his group someway held onto their result in write their names within the historical past books as Pepe headed huge from shut vary appropriate on the loss of life.