Morocco makes the Maghreb and an entire continent dream with an extraordinary feat, which will remain engraved in the history of the World Cup, and which projects it into the semifinals
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The Portugal of the champions, who uselessly conceded 40' also to Ronaldo (who went out in tears), said goodbye and went home after being downsized by coach Regragui's perfect tactical organisation.
He decides a header by one of the more experienced players, the forward En-Nesyri, but once again the protagonist is the goalkeeper Bounou.
The match report
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After Spain, Morocco also ousts the Lusitanians, who don't have much to complain about.
It is the first semifinal of an African team, after the quarterfinals of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana.
And Moroccan fans scattered all over the world celebrate, they understand that no goal is precluded and they enjoy the priceless joy of an unthinkable goal that smacks of redemption for an entire continent.
After Neymar, the tournament also loses CR7 and it is the end of the world adventure of a champion who can't live well with his decline.
Portugal bluntly bumps into the wall of the fortified Moroccan stronghold.
Amrabat makes the metronome and closes every gap with acumen and timing
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The talented Ounahi, praised by Luis Enrique, makes powerful slaloms in midfield, Hakimi and Attiat-Allah roll up their sleeves on the flanks and the Europeans fail to break through.
But the seal is put by Bounou, the goalkeeper against penalties who opposes the rare occasions of the Europeans.
The two cover men, Hakimi and Ziyech, fight, suffer, win.
Portugal is downsized.
Bernardo Silva is uninspired, Rubes Nueves and Otavio make themselves against without finding outlets for strikers.
Ramos is a fish out of water, the only ones who don't give up are Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes (who hits a crossbar), but they preach in the desert.
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The Moroccan goal is the result of a mistake by Diogo Costa and Ruben Dias.
Ronaldo still starts on the bench at the Al-Thumana stadium and keeps company with Cancelo and Carvalho who prefer the more dynamic Ruben Neves.
Fernando Santos can choose, Regragui must instead give up Aguend and Mazraoui.
Morocco practically plays at home with a colourful, powerful cheer that constantly boos their opponents, but does not fall into the trap of overreacting.
In the first half hour, chess is played with the African lines moving in harmony to close every outlet.
Bernardo Silva but above all Bruno Fernandes look for side arrows Dalot and Guerreiro, but Joao Felix has no luck in the 5th and 30th minutes.
Goncalo Ramos, not received.
The Moroccan right wing gradually rises with exchanges, preciousness and bets from the Hakimi-Ziyech-Ounahi trio, with Amrabat protecting the defense and Morocco playing better.
The match got on fire at the end of the half due to a Portuguese mistake: in the 42nd minute Attiat-Allah's cross which should be prey to Diogo Costa.
The goalkeeper has an uncertainty, Ruben Dias gets burned by En-Nesyri who drives his fans crazy with a header
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Furious reaction from the Portuguese: in the 44th minute Bruno Fernandes hit the crossbar with a perhaps casual cross, then simulated a foul in the area.
But Morocco nearly doubled in the 47th minute through Attia-allah.
The game becomes difficult and in the 6th minute Santos brings in the two 90 points, Ronaldo and Cancelo.
But the real trouble for Morocco is the injury of the defense commander, Saiss.
It goes to five and it becomes a Portuguese siege that the Leao card is also played.
But it is a Portugal of many forwards who are unable to break through.
In the 18th minute, new opportunity for Bruno Fernandes, following a mistake by Ziyech, but the trip ends just too high.
Whirlwind of substitutions and Morocco also lost the Chelsea player to injury.
Bounou leads the defense and saves Joao Felix in the 37th minute and Ronaldo in the 46th minute.
Then Cheddira gets sent off for a second yellow card, but doesn't cause any damage.
Prairies open up on the counterattack and in the 51st minute Aboukhlal eats up his second goal.
There is no time to recriminate, it is the triumph of Morocco, of the Arab world, of all of Africa.
Portugal comes out with its tail between its legs, for Ronaldo it is the end of a story that has illuminated five world championships