World Cup 2022: Belgium 0-2 Morocco – Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal seal late win
Lukaku #Lukaku
Morocco 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 goalkeeper 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.
The result means Morocco move above Belgium to the top of Group F on four points, with Croatia and Canada meeting later on Sunday (16:00 GMT kick-off).
Few surprises had seemed on the cards early on. After surviving a high-tempo and helter-skelter approach from Canada – their first opponents in Group F – Belgium’s initial job this time was to break down Morocco’s massed defence.
They managed it within the first five minutes, when Thorgan Hazard sent Michy Batshuayi running clear, but he was denied by Munir Mohamedi, a late replacement in the Morocco goal after Bono was taken ill in the warm-up.
It seemed that would just be the start of some sustained Belgium pressure, but while they continued to dominate possession, further clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Roared on by their noisy fans, who were bouncing all around Al Thumama Stadium in great numbers, Morocco comfortably kept them at bay and began to grow into the game themselves.
They thought they had taken the lead just before half-time when Ziyech’s free-kick eluded Courtois, but the video assistant referee (VAR) showed Romain Saiss was offside and deemed to be interfering with play after running across the Belgium goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Roberto Martinez’s side did not improve after the break, only managing shots from distance from the ineffective Eden Hazard and substitute Dries Mertens.
Morocco, meanwhile, were becoming as lively as their supporters in the stands and went close to taking the lead when Sofiane Boufal cut in from the left and sent a shot bouncing wide.
They kept coming forward and got their reward when Sabiri’s clever free-kick found Courtois dozing at a set-piece again. This time, there was to be no VAR reprieve to save him.
The closest Belgium came to an equaliser was when Jan Vertonghen headed wide, before Aboukhlal made sure of a stunning victory by finishing off a swift break.
Belgium made to look second best
Belgium’s stuttering win over Canada in their opening game means their route to the last 16 is still open, albeit less straightforward than was anticipated.
But this was another reminder that the generation of players that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup four years ago are nearing the end of the road.
They were disjointed going forward, with Batshuayi ineffective in attack and Romelu Lukaku only fit enough for a cameo appearance in the closing moments.
Even Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne was unable to add any inspiration in midfield and, at the back, veteran pair Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld were left petrified by the pace of Morocco’s attack when their side were chasing the game.
They looked nothing like a side supposedly ranked number two in the world and were made to look second best by Morocco, who sit 20 places lower.
Player of the match
ZiyechHakim Ziyech
Belgium
Squad number17Player nameTrossard
Squad number7Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number18Player nameOnana
Squad number21Player nameCastagne
Squad number10Player nameE Hazard
Squad number16Player nameT Hazard
Squad number5Player nameVertonghen
Squad number2Player nameAlderweireld
Squad number15Player nameMeunier
Squad number6Player nameWitsel
Squad number1Player nameCourtois
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Squad number14Player nameMertens
Squad number23Player nameBatshuayi
Squad number22Player nameDe Ketelaere
Squad number9Player nameLukaku
Morocco
Squad number7Player nameZiyech
Squad number5Player nameAguerd
Squad number17Player nameBoufal
Squad number11Player nameSabiri
Squad number14Player nameAboukhlal
Squad number6Player nameSaïss
Squad number2Player nameHakimi
Squad number12Player nameMohamedi
Squad number19Player nameEn-Nesyri
Squad number3Player nameMazraoui
Squad number4Player nameS Amrabat
Squad number9Player nameHamdallah
Squad number18Player nameEl Yamiq
Squad number15Player nameAmallah
Squad number25Player nameAttiat-Allah
Squad number8Player nameOunahi
Line-ups Belgium
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Courtois
15Meunier2Alderweireld5Vertonghen21Castagne
18Onana6Witsel
7De Bruyne10E Hazard16T Hazard
23Batshuayi
Substitutes
Morocco
Formation 4-3-3
12Mohamedi
2Hakimi5Aguerd6Saïss3Mazraoui
8Ounahi4S Amrabat15Amallah
7Ziyech19En-Nesyri17Boufal
Substitutes
Referee: César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos Live Text
Match ends, Belgium 0, Morocco 2.
90’+6′
Second Half ends, Belgium 0, Morocco 2.
90’+5′
Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+5′
Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+5′
Foul by Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco).
90’+5′
Offside, Morocco. Hakim Ziyech tries a through ball, but Sofyan Amrabat is caught offside.
90’+2′
Goal! Belgium 0, Morocco 2. Zakaria Aboukhlal (Morocco) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Hakim Ziyech.
90’+1′
Corner, Morocco. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
90′
Attempt saved. Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Abdelhamid Sabiri.
89′
Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89′
Foul by Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco).
87′
Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).
87′
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) wins a free kick on the left wing.
82′
Attempt missed. Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dries Mertens with a cross following a corner.
82′
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Yahya Attiat-Allah.
81′
Substitution, Belgium. Romelu Lukaku replaces Thomas Meunier.
81′
Axel Witsel (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81′
Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).
80′
Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80′
Foul by Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco).
Get the latest results and goal notifications for any team at the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple external-link – Android external-link – Amazon external-link
Get your daily dose of Fifa World Cup reaction, debate & analysis with World Cup Daily on BBC Sounds
