Morocco stuns Portugal to advance to World Cup semis

Players of Morocco celebrate victory after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinal match between Morocco. ANP

Morocco moves a win away from World Cup final with stunning victory over Portugal

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Dec 10, 2022 12:55 PM ET

Morocco held on to its one-goal halftime lead on Saturday, defeating Portugal 1-0. The win moves Morocco two wins away from a World Cup trophy.

The Moroccan national team never made it past the round of 16 before this run. The only other time the team made it out of the group stage in its six World Cup appearances was in 1986.

They'll face the winner of England-France on Wednesday.

Whoever Morocco faces may find it hard to score. In five 2022 World Cup matches, Morocco's only goal allowed is an own goal against Canada.

Their defensive hot streak isn't a new phenomenon. In the national team's last nine matches, that goal against Canada is the only goal allowed.

◉ 3-0 vs Jamaica
◉ 2-0 vs Chile
◉ 0-0 vs Paraguay
◉ 3-0 vs Georgia
◉ 0-0 vs Croatia
◉ 2-0 vs Belgium
◎ 2-1 vs Canada
◉ 1-0 vs Spain
◉ 1-0 vs Portugal

Morocco have now only conceded one goal in their last NINE games, and that was scored by their own player. #MAR pic.twitter.com/X2Yj7fM8Fo
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 10, 2022

Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute.

MOROCCO TAKES THE LEAD VS PORTUGAL pic.twitter.com/X9qbiJeCBP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 10, 2022

Fans who gathered together to watch in Marrakech roared after the goal.

Scenes of Morocco fans in Marrakech after their first half goal #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/44jZnmpTNP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 10, 2022

The celebration reached a crescendo as the match came to an end.

Marrakesh reacts to Morocco's historic advancement to the World Cup semifinal! #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/7a6pQeqPfh
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 10, 2022

The win was historic. Morocco becomes the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals.

Portugal held a 66 percent to 34 percent advantage in possession in the first half and remained in control in the second half. Portugal finished the match with a 73 percent to 27 percent advantage. Both teams had three shots on goal, but Portugal came up empty on nine corner kicks.

With the 1-0 victory, Morocco won the most important statistic and is two wins away from being not only the talk of the soccer world but on top of it.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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