The dramatic quarterfinals stage of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be remembered by fans in many years to come. From the first two action-packed matches of semifinalist Argentina and Croatia, to Morocco’s hard-earned win, the stage was filled with exciting moments that a die-hard football fans could only dream of.
The 3rd quarterfinals match between Morocco and Portugal has been a breathtaking one. This was the first time an Arab country reached the semifinals. And they proved themselves as a capable team. Yet, Portugal’s coach Santos decided to bench Ronaldo for a second time, surprising fans worldwide.
As a result, Portugal started feeling the pressure from the very first round. While, they had more possession, Morocco had very good counter plans. For Portugal’s warning, Chelsea winger Ziyech let goal slide at 20 minutes by shooting the ball wide. However, his teammate En Nesyri puts his team front with a clean head, scoring 1-0 during 42 minutes.
The goal gives Morocco a visual boost in confidence, as the team does some eye-catching interceptions and defense clearances through the rest of first half. During the break Moroccan fans encouraged their team with the amazing thunderclap, made famous by the Icelandic. While there were clear frustrations on Portugal’s side.
During the second half, the Portugal team gets desperate. As they decide to introduce both Ronaldo and Cancelo. With the newfound strength, Portuguese side try their best with some nice shots. However, the strong Moroccan defense and some sloppy finishers from striker side fails to make a difference.
During 93rd minute, Cheddira faced a second yellow card, leaving Morocco with 10 players in the field. However, their defense remained. Which leads the Arab team win with a 1-0 goal over Portugal. At the last moment, Pepe missed a cross again from Leao.
Morocco definitely made a history tonight, pushing their way through the semifinals with disciplined gameplay and only 27% possession. Unfortunately, Ronaldo fails again to include a world cup in his list of achievements. As his team fails to prove their worth once again, leaving the Portuguese striker in tears. Arab football fans will however be looking forward to the next game of the Atlas Lions.
