adminDOHA. – Morocco became the second African nation to win at the 2022 World Cup with a stunning 2-0 victory over Belgium yesterday.
The Atlas Lions caused the latest shock at a World Cup that has been full of surprises by beating Belgium thanks to late goals by Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal.
Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois was at fault for the first goal, inexplicably allowing Sabiri’s inswinging free-kick to beat him at his near post with 17 minutes to go.
But the whole Belgium side paid the price for a ponderous performance, with Morocco capping a magnificent second-half display when Aboukhlal fired Hakim Ziyech’s cutback into the roof of the net in stoppage time.
That sparked wild celebrations in the stands of Al Thumama Stadium from thousands of Morocco fans, who had created a raucous atmosphere from the start.
“It’s a difficult result because the first goal affected the outcome a lot,” said Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
“It’s a dead ball situation, we couldn’t get our game going and it’s a game that we need to understand. We need to be together and react in the next game. That’s what happens in the World Cup.
“The way we defended the goal is the way we have been defending free-kicks for six years, that’s not the issue. It’s a good ball in, it’s nothing to do with the set up.
“I think we had good moments but we couldn’t get clear cut chances, we only had a couple of half opportunities and if you allow that goal to be conceded then it changes the game radically.
“At the moment we conceded the goal we lost our composure too much and we couldn’t get ourselves back in the final third with more thought.
“We knew Morocco were getting bodies behind the ball and we couldn’t break them down. The game went away from us the moment we conceded the goal.
“We need to make sure that we get stronger together and we’ll get ready for the third game.” – BBC Sport
Online Reporter