Morocco 1-0 Portugal: Youssef En-Nesyri scores winner to put African side into semis

Morocco became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and ended the hopes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

The north African side’s supporters populated most of the venue and joyously celebrated their breakthrough moment on the global stage.

Ronaldo came off the bench in the 50th minute to equal the men’s all-time appearance record of 196 in international matches, but he could not drag his side back into the contest.

Morocco, who will face England or France in the last four, were happy to play on the counter and grabbed the opener just before the break when En-Nesyri headed in from Yahya Attiyat-Allah’s cross.

Portugal skipper Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close to levelling just minutes later but a brilliant individual effort struck the crossbar.

Decimated by injuries, Morocco sat back for the majority of the second half and Yassine Bounou brilliantly tipped over Joao Felix’s drive – the closest they came to an equaliser.

Morocco striker Walid Cheddira was sent off for a second yellow card in eight minutes of additional time but Portugal could not find the equaliser as their last-four hopes were dashed.

Magnificent Moroccans make history

Three African sides had previously reached this stage of the World Cup but none had progressed any further. Until now.

The marvellous Moroccan players and fans rejoiced as En-Nesyri’s header on 42 minutes proved to be the pivotal moment.

Fans whistled and jeered every pass the Portuguese players made and then the rowdiest section behind the goal seemed to suck the ball into the net.

Walid Regragui’s side were missing West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd, Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui and lost captain Romain Saiss to injury early in the second period.

But they defended resolutely and frustrated Portugal to keep their seventh clean sheet in eight games under their boss and have conceded just once in this tournament.

Morocco are a tough proposition and buoyed on by a partisan crowd in Doha, they will present a difficult challenge to whoever they face in the last four on Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Bounou, earning his 50th cap, pushed away a header from Felix early on and a deflected strike flew narrowly over.

Morocco had carved out the better opportunities on the break but En-Nesyri sent two free headers off target and Sofiane Boufal’s curler was straight at Costa.

In his desperation for an equaliser, Fernando Santos sent on Ronaldo early in the second half but the 37-year-old – who equalled Kuwait striker Bader Al-Mutawa’s international caps record – found it difficult to make any impact.

Having seen rival Lionel Messi reach the semi-finals on Friday, Ronaldo could not do the same with his side on what is likely to be his final World Cup appearance, trudging down the tunnel in tears at full-time as his dream was over.

Player of the match

En-NesyriYoussef En-Nesyri

with an average of 8.77

Morocco

1. Squad number19Player nameEn-Nesyri

   Average rating

   8.77

2. Squad number4Player nameS Amrabat

   Average rating

   8.69

3. Squad number7Player nameZiyech

   Average rating

   8.65

4. Squad number17Player nameBoufal

   Average rating

   8.48

5. Squad number25Player nameAttiat-Allah

   Average rating

   8.47

6. Squad number2Player nameHakimi

   Average rating

   8.43

7. Squad number15Player nameAmallah

   Average rating

   8.39

8. Squad number1Player nameBono

   Average rating

   8.39

9. Squad number8Player nameOunahi

   Average rating

   8.36

10. Squad number6Player nameSaïss

    Average rating

    8.28

11. Squad number18Player nameEl Yamiq

    Average rating

    8.24

12. Squad number14Player nameAboukhlal

    Average rating

    8.24

13. Squad number20Player nameDari

    Average rating

    8.17

14. Squad number24Player nameBenoun

    Average rating

    8.12

15. Squad number26Player nameJabrane

    Average rating

    8.07

16. Squad number21Player nameCheddira

    Average rating

    7.13

Portugal

1. Squad number8Player nameBruno Fernandes

   Average rating

   4.43

2. Squad number15Player nameRafael Leão

   Average rating

   4.36

3. Squad number11Player nameJoão Félix

   Average rating

   4.35

4. Squad number20Player nameJoão Cancelo

   Average rating

   4.32

5. Squad number10Player nameBernardo Silva

   Average rating

   4.28

6. Squad number4Player nameRúben Dias

   Average rating

   4.18

7. Squad number2Player nameDiogo Dalot

   Average rating

   4.17

8. Squad number3Player namePepe

   Average rating

   4.08

9. Squad number18Player nameRúben Neves

   Average rating

   3.89

10. Squad number5Player nameRaphaël Guerreiro

    Average rating

    3.82

11. Squad number26Player nameGonçalo Ramos

    Average rating

    3.81

12. Squad number22Player nameDiogo Costa

    Average rating

    3.68

13. Squad number25Player nameOtávio

    Average rating

    3.62

14. Squad number16Player nameVitinha

    Average rating

    3.61

15. Squad number21Player nameRicardo Horta

    Average rating

    3.57

16. Squad number7Player nameCristiano Ronaldo

    Average rating

    3.28

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