His dream was not fulfilled. Cristiano Ronaldo had to leave without touching the coveted World Cup trophy. A football legend ended his World Cup chapter with the pain of breaking his dream on Morocco’s history-making night. Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco.
As in the previous match, Fernando Santos made the XI by keeping Ronaldo on the bench. But every day there are new surprises. Youssef N-Nessery’s goal gave Morocco the lead before the break. Ronaldo came off at the beginning of the second half.
And so far, no team from the Arab region or the African continent could go to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Morocco broke that record. They are the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Ashraf Hakimi-Hakim Ziykh’s side beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarter-finals.
Morocco won 1-0 against Ronaldo at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday (December 10). Portugal created scoring chances early on. Portugal gets a free-kick just outside the Morocco D box. Bruno Fernandez took that kick. Joao Felix jumped up and headed the ball in flight. But Yasin Bono gloved the ball on his head.
In the match, both teams started the game with high pressing. Portugal got a chance to go ahead by scoring a free kick in the fourth minute. But Joao Felix’s head was blocked by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bunu. The African nation terrorized the Portuguese defense with every attack in the next minute. But the Portuguese survived that journey.
Both teams attack from the beginning with the aim of a goal. In the first 20 minutes, Portugal panicked several times from set pieces and long balls. And Morocco tries to surprise Portugal with the beauty of one-touch football. They also tried to create opportunities with shots from outside the D-box. But neither team got what is meant by an easy chance. As both teams tried to take control of the match, more was played in the midfield rather than the attacking third.
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In the 31st minute, Felix’s half-volley hit a Moroccan player and went wide. The absence of center-back Nayef Aguerde and full-back Nusair Mazraoui due to injury in defense has affected Morocco. But they were pretty fluent in the attack.
In the 34th minute, Salim Amallah got the ball inside the D-box in a great attack but could not put it on target. However, Morocco went ahead in the 42nd minute with the beauty of one-touch football. N-Nesseri put the Atlas Lions ahead with a superb header from Yahya Atta’s cross. In the 45th minute, Bruno Fernandez’s solo effort from an awkward angle rattled the Moroccan post.
Offered attacking football from the start after the break. Ronaldo entered the field in 52 minutes. The name also made a great cross down the left flank. But Bunu stopped it. At this time, Morocco was somewhat cornered under the pressure of Portugal’s attack.
In the 58th minute, Gonzalo Ramos’ header went wide of the post. In the 64th minute, Fernandez’s shot from outside the D-box went over the post. In the second half, Portugal’s defense could not spread any fear. In the 68th minute, if Ronaldo touched Fernandez’s cross, the turn of the match could have changed.
Portugal created the perfect opportunity to score in the 70th minute. At this time, they get a free-kick on the left side of Morocco’s D box. Bruno Fernandez took that free kick. A player from Portugal’s defense did not reach the ball even from the empty space. After some time, despite several attempts, Portugal did not see the face of the goal.
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In the 82nd minute, Bernardo Silva passed from the right side to Ronaldo inside the D box. On the return pass, Ronaldo again extended the ball to Silva. His great shot went just inside the post. But the Moroccan goalkeeper jumped up and touched his hand to save the team. Ronaldo could have saved the team in the end. But it went to Bono’s hand despite taking a shot past two defenders. Pepe couldn’t save the team like Ronaldo.
Walid Shedira left the field after seeing a red card in added time. Portugal could not use 10-man Morocco for 6 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal left the Qatar World Cup 2022 after losing 1-0.