Vinay Nayudu
Doha
Morocco’s fairtytale at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 continues!
The Atlas Lions became the first African-Arab nation to make it to the semi-finals of a World Cup on Saturday as striker Youssef En Nesyri made a successful leap of faith in the 42nd minute of the match against Portugal at the Al Thumama Stadium.
En Nesyri landed with a big thud, and in pain, but he had already gifted his nation the all-important goal by out-jumping Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa for a winner.
Just like the striker, coach Walid Regragui’s team, down to 10-man towards the end, stood out tall against Portugal in their 1-0 quarter-final win.
In the process, the Moroccan side outdid Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) to enter the last four of the biggest footballing spectacle in the world.
At the same time, Morocco also killed the dream of Cristiano Ronaldo, who walked away in a well of tears through the players’ tunnel post match.
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.
