Morocco continued their fairytale World Cup with a 1-0 win over Portugal to become the first African nation to reach the semifinals of a FIFA World Cup.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored the game's only goal with a header late in the first half to set up a semifinal with France on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Portugal’s loss likely ends Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of winning a World Cup, with the 37-year-old ending the night walking up the tunnel in tears.
Expected goals (xG): Morocco 1.37, Portugal 0.82
Man of the Match: Azzedine Ounahi, Morocco
Ounahi was tremendous on the ball for Morocco. He attempted six dribbles in the game, completing four of them, the most of any player in the game. His four fouls won were also tied for a game-high.
He completed five of the eight line-breaking passes he attempted, two of which broke the defensive line, and finished the game with two key passes. Defensively, he won both 50/50 duels he was involved in and successfully defended the only dribble he faced.
Best Passer: Bernardo Silva, Portugal
Despite a losing effort for Portugal, Bernardo Silva had an impressive performance as a passer, completing 86.7% of the passes. His 85 completed passes were the third-most in the game, trailing only Pepe and Ruben Dias. He completed six of the seven line-breaking passes he attempted in the game and produced a key pass that resulted in a shot at goal.
Best Challenger: Sofiane Boufal, Morocco
Boufal has made a name for himself with his work on the ball in this World Cup, but against Portugal, it was his work defensively that earns him a mention here. He won three of the six aerial duels he was involved in, the only 50/50 duel he was involved in and three of the four tackles he attempted.
Goalkeepers
Morocco goalkeeper Bono continued his impressive tournament with another solid showing between the sticks, saving all three shots on target he faced. Portugal’s Diogo Costa pulled off three saves of his own but made a mess of coming for the ball on the cross that led to Youssef En-Nesyri’s game-winning goal in the first half.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.