Morocco would dare to dream the impossible and keep making them come true. In a performance that descended from the skies and with a win for the ages, they would go where no African nation has gone before.
Showing no fear against the heavyweights of World Cup football, and wowing the watching world with their brave, open game, tenacity and technical finesse, the north African nation would storm into the semifinals here at Qatar.
It would be a 41st minute winner, from the head of the head of the lanky Youssef en-Nesyri, that would be heard around the world as a brave, fighting Portugal side would be edged out in the final run.
Cristiano Ronaldo, brought in late, to salvage something, anything would depart in tears. But the true tears would belong to the Atlas Lions, too crazed, too engulfed in the embrace of a thankful nation to even remember to break down. But it would all be overwhelming and overpowering once the enormity of their achievement would begin to sink in.
Things would begin on an even keel. In the 11th minute, Joao Felix had a fine diving header attempt saved in the melee outside Yassine Bounou’s goal. Then, 10 minutes later, fed from the left, Bruno Fernandes would clatter with Bounou.
The Moroccans would raise the roof, each touch by the Cristiano-less Portuguese would be jeered and whistled at.
At the half hour mark, a fine Felix volley headed for goal would hit Jawad el-Yamiq and narrowly miss Bounou’s goal.
A couple of minutes later, Azzedine Ounahi would break on the right, switch play to the left, finding an overlapping Yahya Attiat-Allah. Attiat-Allah would set it up for Selim Amallah, who would fluff this great chance by shooting over.
It would prove very tough to decide which of the two sides were more fluid, Portugal wonderful with the creating and Morocco breathtaking on the break.
His shackles free with the absence of Ronaldo, Felix would flower and his battle with the terrific Achraf Hakimi along the left.
But the balance would tilt so historically in the 41st minute. Ounahi and his free-moving role in the Moroccan half would see him set-up Attiat-Allah. The cross would find Youssef en-Nesyri, who rising over Ruben Diaz and blindsiding an advanced goalkeeper Diogo Costa, would find the net.
Bedlam! The stadium would erupt, the thumping support for their men and the shrill jeers for the Portuguese would make it impossible to listen to oneself think even. But Portugal would not be put down.
In reply, Bruno Fernandez’s long-range volley from the right would kiss Bounou’s crosspiece and sail away to safety.
Then, this time it would be Ounahi setting up Attiat-Allah for a fantastic chance, but he would hit it wide.
In the second half, Hakimi would break down his right, stopping a Pepe of old on the right edge of the Portugal box. Hakim Ziyech would stand over it, the ball would meet Jawad el Yamiq towering over Pepe but unable to guide it home.
In the 51st, Fernando Santos would throw in Ronaldo for Ruben Nevas, Joao Cancelo for Raphael Guerreiro.
In the 55th, Sofiane Boufal would break free of Bernardo Silva, cut in and provide en-Nesyri with a terrific ball. En-Nesyri’s cut back for Ounahi would give Morocco another great chance, but the midfielder would shoot over.
Just past the hour, Bruno Fernandes would find himself set up with a good chance in the middle but would shoot over. With time slipping away, his frustration at his own action summed up the situation.
There would be a spell of possession for Portugal, ending with Fernandes sending a cross for his men in the middle, in particular a waiting Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s introduction would mean him becoming the target man for Portugal’s long balls now, and their more wing-based play. Diaz would move up along the left, then Ra Diaz moving more along the left. Then Rafael Leao’s coming in would mean he would take up the left and Felix would move in the middle alongside Ronadlo.
The high press would make it easier for Morocco to exploit the Portugal defence, and substitute Walid Cheddira would almost make it 2-0 after a terrific break on the right by Morocco helmed by none other than Ounahi.
In the 82nd, Felix would test Bounou with a terrific long-range effort, but the Moroccan goalkeeper would be more than equal to it.
Time would be slipping away for Portugal, Santos’s figure on their bench even more hunched, more sullen for despite the possession, the final passes would go wide and stray among the many changes the Portuguese manager would have made.
Morocco would continue to feast off the break. In the 90th minute, Felix would be dispossessed by the burly Sofyan Amrabat, who would then power up and set up Cheddira on the left. Cheddira, after a half-dozen such misses against Spain in their second-round win earlier, would miss again, perhaps making clear Walid Regragui’s plan for the dying stages to have him hog the ball and ultimately waste it.
Cheddira would soon be expelled, his second booking in only the 25-minute duration of his stay for a foul on Felix. Ten-man Morocco would then find the best chance to put it all beyond any doubt when Zakaria Boukhlal bearing in unopposed on Costa’s goal would hit it straight to him.
Then Pepe would miss, his header at the right post going agonizingly wide. And then, it would be all over.
