Moscow: Portugal will be happy with the result and would look to improve their finishing in their next game against Iran. Morocco are knocked out of the World Cup after this defeat and play Spain in their final match. Morocco went all out attacking in the second half but could not much about the scoreline as Portugal held on. Ronaldo scored his fourth goal of the tournament with a header in the fourth minute to guide Portugal to their second win in two games.
Here are the updates from the match:
Portugal 1-0 Morocco
Full Time!!!!
90+4 minute: Morocco are pushing hard in the dying minutes of the match to squeeze a goal, Portugal are under pressure but have time on their side.
2 minutes to go!
90+2 minute: Free-kick to Morocco. They miss again as Medhi Benatia fails to shoot the ball on target.
5 minutes of Stoppage time!
89 minute: MISS! Morocco miss another golden opportunity, as a Morocco player clouds the ball away from the crossbar.
86 minute: Substitution for Morocco! Fajr in for El Ahmadi.
83 minute: Ronaldo goes down on the edge of the box, that could be close! Free-kick to Portugal. Ronaldo fails to get past the Morocco wall.
8 minutes to go!
80 minute: Corner for Morocco. Morocco are running out of time as they waste another opportunity.
77 minute: Free-kick to Morocco in the right! That was close! Morocco’s player makes contact but heads the ball wide.
75 minute: Portugal, on the other hand, are happy to run the clock and sneak in an attack now and then.
72 minute: Morocco are determined to equalise but they have lacked quality in the final third.
68 minute: Substitution from both the teams! Morocco’s A. El Kaabi replaces K. Boutaïb and Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes is in for Joao Mario.
67 minute: Free-kick to Morocco at a dangerous position, Portugal’s Raphael Guerreiro needs to be careful as he giving away too many set-pieces to Morocco.
61 minute: Free-kick to Portugal. The Portugal player would definitely loft the ball for Ronaldo find a header but the ball goes past him.
60 minute: Substitution for Portugal. Gelson Martins replaces Bernardo Silva.
59 minute: Morocco are pushing hard and keeping the Portugal goalkeeper busy, but Rui Patricio is on his toes to keep the scoreline intact.
58 minute: Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio displays great reflexes as he saves a header off Younes Belhanda. What a save!
51 minute: Portugal on the attack, Ronaldo finds space in the box but he clouds the ball away from the Morocco goal.
48 minute: Corner for Portugal early in the second-half. Jose Fonte tries to head the ball but the Referee awards Morocco a free-kick.
Second-half is underway!
Portugal 1-0 Morocco!
Half-time !!
45+1 minute: Corner for Morocco, but the ball goes wide. Can Portugal survive the carnage.
3 minutes of Stoppage time!
44 minute: Morocco are streaming down the Portugal half but the latter do well to hold them off.
43 minute: Morocco forward sprints down the right flank but fails to find a teammate with his long cross from the far post.
40 minute: Yellow card!! Morocco’s Medhi Benatia gets a yellow card for a foul on Ronaldo.
39 minute: SAVED!! Morocco’s goalkeeper holds his nerve with a brilliant save, that looked like a certain goal.
36 minute: Portugal’s Cedric Soares brings down Khalid Boutaib but the Referee plays on.
Possession
Portugal- 50 percent
Morocco- 50 percent
32 minute: Corner! Portugal are hunting in packs as they gear up to take a corner. The Morocco defenders clear the ball to safety.
31 minute: Free-kick to Portugal in a dangerous position, but Ronaldo does not get past the defence.
28 minute: Both teams enjoy equal possession but are giving it away in the final third.
26 minute: Morocco player goes down right outside the Portugal box, but the Referee shows no interest.
24 minute: Ronaldo goes down and Morocco have found an answer to keep the Portugal striker from scoring, foul him.
22 minute: Another shot on the Portugal goal from distance, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech fires a bullet. Morocco are up and attacking.
19 minute: Corner for Morocco, but the Portugal keeper makes a comfortable save.
13 minute: Both Portugal and Morocco are trying to settle down, what a match this is turning out to be.
11 minute: That was close! Morocco’s Manuel Da Costa attempts a shot from long-range but the Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio was alert enough to deny Morocco the equaliser.
This was Ronaldo’s 85th International goal, making him the highest goals scorer in Europe in the history of football.
8 minute: Morocco defenders fail to keep Ronaldo quiet, Portugal striker goes for a shot from the box but the ball goes wide. Ronaldo on the attack.
Portugal 1-0 Morocco!
4 minute: GOAL!!!! Ronaldo opens his account. The goalkeeper had no chance of stopping that. This is his Fourth goal in the World cup
3 minute: Morocco make the first charge Hakim Ziyech looks dangerous up-front.
Kick-off
Smarting after a last-gasp defeat to Iran, Morocco will have to deal with the peerless might of Portugal, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, who will attempt to follow up his World Cup opening game heroics when the two sides meet for a Group B clash.
In hot form, Ronaldo will once again look to continue his magic at the Luzhniki Stadium and push Portugal into the last 16. It is a must-win match for Morocco who lost the first one to Iran 0-1. The Portugal-Spain match had ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Lineups
Portugal XI: Rui Patricio, Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro, Jose Fonte, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, Joao Mario, Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Goncalo Guedez, Cedric Soares
Morocco XI: Mounir El Kajoui, Achraf Hakimi, Manuel Da Costa, Medhi Benatia, Hakim Ziyech, Karim El Ahmadi, Younes Belhanda, Khalid Boutaib, Mbark Boussoufa, Nordin Amrabat, Nabil Dirar
Portugal full squad:
Goalkeepers – Rui Patricio, Beto, Anthony Lopes. Defenders – Cedric Soares, Ricardo Pereira, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Bruno Alves, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro, Mario Rui. Midfielders – Joao Moutinho, Adrien Silva, William Carvalho, Joao Mario, Manuel Fernandes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva. Forwards – Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma, Goncalo Guedez, Andre Silva, Gelson Martins
Morocco full squad:
Goalkeepers – Ahmad Reda Tagnaouti, Mounir El Kajoui, Yassine Bounou. Defenders – Medhi Benatia, Romain Saiss, Manuel Da Costa, Badr Benoun, Nabil Dirar, Achraf Hakimi, Hamza Mendyl. Midfielders – Mbark Boussoufa, Hakim Ziyech, Karim El Ahmadi, Youssef Ait Bennasser, Sofyan Amrabat, Younes Belhanda, Faycal Fajr, Amine Harit. Forwards – Khalid Boutaib, Aziz Bouhaddouz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Nordin Amrabat, Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez.
Source: Zee News