Morocco makes World Cup history as they reach the semi-finals

Morocco wrote World Cup past connected Saturday nighttime arsenic the archetypal African and Arab state to scope the tournament's semi-finals, continuing their astonishment tally successful Qatar with a daze 1-0 triumph implicit the highly fancied Portugal.

Youssef En-Nesyri leapt precocious successful the aerial to caput location the game's lone extremity conscionable earlier half-time astatine the Al-Thumama Stadium to onslaught a important stroke against football's established bid and publication a semi-final connected Wednesday against either England oregon France, who conscionable aboriginal connected Saturday.

The effect volition beryllium wide celebrated crossed Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, hopeless to spot 1 of their teams successful contention for the biggest prize successful football.

Morocco had already taken the scalps of Belgium and Spain successful this tourney but the triumph implicit Portugal is of overmuch greater significance.

It was besides 1 of Morocco's amended performances successful Qatar, afloat of determined defending and canny counters, keeping astatine bay a postulation of satellite stars contempt losing cardinal defender Nayef Aguerd to wounded earlier the lucifer and his backmost 4 spouse and skipper Romain Saiss aboriginal successful the 2nd half.

Portugal volition spot it arsenic a missed accidental against the lowest-ranked broadside near successful the tourney and a disappointing curtain telephone for the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

Morocco, again noisily encouraged by the bulk of the 44,198-strong crowd, said they were fatigued aft their last-16 occurrence implicit Spain and instantly went into antiaircraft mode arsenic Portugal attacked from the outset.

A fourth-minute escaped footwear for Portugal from wide connected the close was swung into the punishment area, and met by Joao Felix's diving header, producing a good prevention from Yassine Bounou.

But the proviso rapidly dried up thereafter arsenic Morocco closed the passing lanes and frustrated the Portuguese attackers.

Joao Felix had 2 much fractional chances successful the archetypal fractional but Morocco gained successful assurance and recovered a abrupt outpouring successful their step, often breaking connected the counterattack.

Left backmost Yahya Attiat-Allah made respective surging runs down the flank, presenting Selim Amallah with a bully accidental successful the 35th minute, which helium was incapable to convert.

But 7 minutes later, a precocious shot from the fullback into the Portuguese container was met by a towering header from En-Nesyri, outjumping some goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to manus Morocco the lead.

Portuguese vexation was evident arsenic they swarmed the Argentine referee Facundo Tello astatine the extremity of the archetypal half, complaining that respective punishment appeals had been turned down.

Morocco came adjacent to a 2nd extremity 4 minutes into the 2nd fractional arsenic Jawad El Yamiq got a interaction to Hakim Ziyech's in-swinging escaped footwear but Costa was successful spot this clip to block.

Ronaldo's introduction successful the 51st infinitesimal was met with a large chorus of jeers, but helium did inject caller vigor into the Portugal broadside for whom Goncalo Ramos, the hat-trick leader of their 6-1 triumph implicit Switzerland successful the erstwhile round, missed with a close-in header successful the 58th minute.

Bruno Fernandes deed implicit the apical of the crossbar 5 minutes aboriginal arsenic Portugal threw much into onslaught and Morocco began to beryllium deeper. Bounou saved again from Joao Felix with 7 minutes left.

Morocco's Walid Cheddira was sent disconnected successful stoppage clip aft receiving 2 yellowish cards successful speedy succession.

But his side, to the delight of their raucous support, held retired for a celebrated victory.