By Reaching the Semifinals Morocco Makes World Cup History

Main Points:

• On Saturday night, Morocco made World Cup history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to advance to the final four.
• The outcome will be warmly welcomed in Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, where fans are eager to see one of their sides competing for football's top honor.

Morocco players and staff pose for a photo after the World Cup win against Portugal as the team progresses to the semifinals. Paul Childs | Reuters

Morocco continued their unexpected run in Qatar on Saturday night with a shock 1-0 victory over the highly anticipated Portugal, making World Cup history as the first African and Arab nation to advance to the semifinals.

Just before halftime at the Al-Thumama Stadium, Youssef En-Nesyri leaped high in the air to head home the game's lone goal, striking a significant blow against football's established order and securing a semi-final matchup on Wednesday against either England or France, who will face off later on Saturday.

The outcome will be warmly welcomed in Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, where fans are eager to see one of their sides competing for football's top honor.

In this tournament, Morocco had already defeated Belgium and Spain, but the victory over Portugal is considerably more significant.

Despite losing crucial defender Nayef Aguerd before the game to injury and his back four partners and captain Romain Saiss early in the second half, it was one of Morocco's finest displays in Qatar, full of tenacious defending and deft counters, keeping at bay a collection of world stars.

In addition to being a squandered opportunity against the tournament's lowest-ranked team, Portugal's performance will be remembered as Cristiano Ronaldo's depressing farewell match at the age of 37.

Following their victory over Spain in the last 16, Morocco claimed they were exhausted and switched to defense as Portugal attacked right away. They were once more loudly applauded by the majority of the 44,198 spectators.

Joao Felix's diving header off of a Portugal free kick that was looped into the penalty area in the fourth minute forced a superb save from Yassine Bounou.

However, since Morocco blocked the crossing lanes and impeded the Portuguese attackers, the supply soon ran out.

In the first half, Joao Felix had two more opportunities to score, but Morocco suddenly found their mojo and routinely broke on the counterattack as their confidence grew.

accelerating Left back Selim Amallah was given a golden opportunity in the 35th minute by Yahya Attiat-several Allah's darting dashes down the flank, but he was unable to take advantage of it.

However, En-Nesyri scored Morocco's opening goal seven minutes later by outjumping both goalkeepers Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias with a thunderous header after a long cross from the fullback into the Portuguese area.

At the conclusion of the first half, an enraged Portuguese crowd surrounded Argentine referee Facundo Tello to complain about many missed penalty requests.

Four minutes into the second half, Jawad El Yamiq touched Hakim Ziyech's inswinging free kick, but Costa was there to block it this time. Morocco nearly scored a second goal.

Ronaldo entered the game in the 51st minute to loud jeers, but he gave Portugal new life after Goncalo Ramos, who scored three goals in their 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the previous round, failed with a close-range header in the 58th.

Five minutes later, Bruno Fernandes hit over the top of the crossbar as Portugal poured more offensive and Morocco started to sit deeper. With seven minutes left, Bounou again stopped Joao Felix from scoring.

Walid Cheddira of Morocco was sent in stoppage time after earning two consecutive yellow cards.

But his team held out for a storied triumph, to the pleasure of their boisterous cheering section.