Morocco dreams and complicates life for Belgium
Roberto Martínez’s men add another disappointing performance against the African side, who join the fight for the round of 16
MADRID, 27 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Moroccan team surprised Belgium this Sunday (0-2) on the second day of the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar and presented its candidacy for the round of 16, in a duel in which they recovered from the strange Bono’s absence to topple Roberto Martínez’s men, who are complicating their future in the World Cup.
In an excellent game, Chelsea striker Hakim Ziyech, Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal scored the goals coming off the bench to offer the African team their third World Cup victory in their history, all to lead Group F (4) ahead of the ‘Red Devils’, who are still unconvincing despite winning their debut against Canada (1-0).
The disappearance of the eleven goalkeeper Bono, who took to the field along with his ten starting teammates and listened to the hymns on the pitch, disconcerted those present at the Al Thumama Stadium, who saw how Munir from Melilla took his place under the sticks at the start of the match. game without being informed of what happened with the Sevilla goalkeeper.
The mishap did not discourage the ‘Atlas Lions’, who despite everything enjoyed the best chances of a first half in which Roberto Martínez’s team had an unsuccessful dominance -with 70% possession-.
Amallah and Achraf Hakimi warned Thibaut Courtois with two high shots, and Hakim Ziyech scored just before half-time in a goal that had to undergo a VAR test; the Mexican referee César Arturo Ramos went to the screen to review the action, which he finally annulled due to Saiss’s previous offside.
Walid Regragui’s men insisted on the resumption; former Celta midfielder Sofiane Boufal narrowed the goal in a shot that went wide in the 56th minute, before Munir thwarted a shot from Mertens.
The Moroccan coach’s double substitution at 68 minutes paid off only five later; Abdelhamid Sabiri, one of those who had just entered the pitch, rewarded the effort of the African team and, in a free kick, surprised everyone by shooting directly on goal and hitting the ball near the near post (min.73).
Already in discount, Zakaria Aboukhlal also vindicated himself starting from the bench to certify, with another goal for the squad after a great play by Ziyech, the triumph of Morocco.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: BELGIUM, 0 – MOROCCO, 2 (0-0, at halftime).
–LINE-UPS.
BELGIUM: Courtois; Castagne, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Meunier (Lukaku, min.81), Witsel, Onana (Tielemans, min.60), T.Hazard (Trossard, min.75); De Bruyne, E.Hazard (Mertens, min.60) and Batshuayi (De Ketelaere, min.75).
MARRUECOS: Munir; Achraf Hakimi (Attiat-Allah, min. 68), Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Amallah (Sabiri, min. 68), Ounahi (El Yamiq, min. 78); Boufal (Aboukhlal, min. 73), Ziyech y En-Nesyri (Hamdallah, min. 73).
–GOALS:
0-1, min. 73: Sabiri.
0-2, min.92: Aboukhlal.
–REFEREE: César Arturo Ramos (MEX). He admonished Amadou Onana (min.29) for Belgium and Abdelhamid Sabiri (min.95) for Morocco.
–STADIUM: Al Thumama.