Morocco became the first-ever African side to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup after sensationally beating Portugal 1-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium.
A common theme of these World Cup finals had been tight, cagey first-half displays, with neither side willing to take risks in the early going.
This contest was no different, with Morocco’s incredible positional discipline on display to shut down Portugal’s many creative threats.
Their water-tight defence had conceded just once across their previous eight games, but Walid Regragui was forced into changes, with Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui ruled out.
Stand-in centre-back Jawad El Yamiq was called into action before the interval, crucially deflecting João Félix’s effort wide of the target. It was an intervention that would be rewarded.
Having successfully shut down Portugal for most of the first half, the Atlas Lions grew into the contest and edged ahead as half time…
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