DPA
Doha
Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final on Saturday with a 1-0 triumph in Qatar over Portugal who again started without their star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri headed the historic goal in the 42nd minute when he beat Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa for a cross from Yahya Attiat-Allah.
Ronaldo came on in the 51st for his 196th cap which equalled the world record from Saudi Arabia's Badr al-Mutawa.
But he was unable to force a turnaround for Portugal whose Bruno Fernandes was denied by the crossbar before half-time, and Morocco also held on after their substitute Walid Cheddira was sent off for a second bookable offence early in eight minutes of stoppage time.The largely Moroccan crowd at Al Thumami Stadium and the team erupted in joy after the Atlas Lions ended Africa's quarter-final jinx in a fourth attempt, after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 had all gone out in the last eight.
Morocco's fairytale run continues on Wednesday when they face either title holders France or Euro 2020 runners-up England who complete the quarter-finals later on Saturday.
They have only allowed one goal in five games in Qatar, an own goal from Nayef Aguerd in the group game against Canada, while keeping 2018 runners-up Croatia, long-time world ranking leaders Belgium, 2010 champions Spain and now Euro 2016 winners Portugal scoreless.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos chose youngster Gonçalo Ramos over the 37-year-old Ronaldo just like in the 6-1 rout of Switzerland in the last 16 where Ramos had scored a hat-trick. The only change was Ruben Neves replacing William Carvalho in midfield.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui had to replace injured key defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Aguerd, with Attiyat-Allah fielded.
Portugal had an early chance from João Felix' diving header which was denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who had famously saved two Spanish penalties in their last 16 shoot-out win.
Atletico Madrid's Felix remained the main threat and his attempt later from a distance took a wicked deflection off Jawad El Yamiq and went inches over.
At the other end, Youssef En-Nesyri headed high from a promising position, Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech shot well wide from a distance, and Selim Amallah was also off target when he should have done better.
That showed the Moroccans would not rely solely on their firm defence, and they were awarded in the 42nd when En-Nesyri rose high in the air to beat Costa to Attiat-Allah's cross and head in for 1-0.
Portugal were however almost level before half-time when Bruno Fernandes surprised Bounou from a right angle but his effort hit the crossbar.
Costa kept a dangerous free-kick cross out with plenty of traffic in front of him, and Ronaldo then came on in the 51st to join Ramos up front in search of the equalizer.
Ramos incredibly headed wide in the 57th completely unmarked before being taken off 10 minutes later, while Fernandes shot just over the bar.
Morocco hardly came out of their half, but Bounou tipped Felix' 82nd-minute drive over the bar and was also on his guard against Ronaldo.
Cheddira was then sent off over second yellow card, but Zakaria Aboukhlal should have clinched victory on the only late counter which almost backfired when Portugal got one last chance from Pepe which however went wide.
