Morocco to semi-finals on the shoulders of Ronaldo and companyq
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Morocco made history by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup (Qatar 2022), after defeating Portugal 1-0 on Saturday evening in the quarter-finals.
The Lions owe this victory to Youssef Al-Nasiri, who scored the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute.
With this victory, Morocco becomes the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals of World Cup in its history, waiting for the winner of the match against England and France.
The game started with pressure from Portugal, with Joao Felix firing in a header that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bono in the 4th minute.
From a corner kick for Morocco, Youssef Nasiri's header flew over the crossbar in the 6th minute.
Hakim Ziyech, the star of Morocco tried to threaten the Portugal goal with a shot from outside the penalty area, which passed by the left post in the 17th minute.
Hakim Ziyech sent a cross into the Portugal penalty area, towards Nasiri, who struck a clumsy header in the 25th minute.
Joao Felix sent a powerful ball on the edge of the penalty area, hit Morocco defender Jawad Al-Yamiq, and passed over the horizontal crossbar of Yassine Bounou's goal in the 30th minute.
Morocco's Sofiane Boufal aimed a powerful ball from outside the box, which goalkeeper Costa saved in the 35th minute.
Al-Nasiri succeeded in scoring the goal in the 42nd minute, as he received a cross from the left side through Yahya Attia Allah, he rose brilliantly and put the ball in the net.
Bruno Fernandes almost equalized for Portugal in the 45th minute, with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar of Yassine Bono's goal, to end the first half with Morocco advancing with a goal without reply.
At the start of the second half, Morocco were awarded a direct free-kick by Hakim Ziyech with a cross in the area, which goalkeeper Costa came out to save and collide with Jawad, before it eventually turned into a goal kick in the 49th minute.
Goncalo Ramos almost equalized the score for Portugal, as he received a cross from the right side, and rose and shot a header that passed along the left post of Yassine Bono's goal in the 58th minute.
Bruno aimed a powerful ball from the edge of the penalty area, which went over the horizontal crossbar in the 64th minute.
Yassine Bounou was brilliant in saving a dangerous curling shot from Joao Felix in the 82nd minute, and turned it for a corner.
Yassine Bono continued to shine by saving a shot from Portugal captain shoulders Cristiano Ronaldo in the 90+1 minute.
Morocco's Walid Chdira, who came on as a substitute in the 65th minute, received two yellow cards within three minutes, and the referee of the match was shown a red card.
Zakaria Boukhal missed the chance to add Morocco's second goal in the 95th minute, as he singled out goalkeeper Costa, but he shot awkwardly into the bodykeeper's body.
The Moroccans' resilience continued in the final minutes, only to surprise Portugal from the quarter-finals, and continue to write history.