Image from the Telegraph |
Portugal escaped their second game against Morocco with a 1-0 win despite being second best for the majority of the game. Ronaldo’s header was the difference for the European Champions as he became the highest international goalscorer in Europe. Portugal now have four points which sets them up for a standoff between Iran in matchday three who also need a win to qualify. As for Morocco, they’ve been dumped out of the World Cup with back-to-back defeats to Iran and now Portugal and will play their final game against Spain, hoping to earn their country some dignity by gaining something from the match.
Image from the Telegraph |
The second half started with Portugal making more of an impact but with no final product after Bernardo Silva sliced a shot behind him somehow and then Ronaldo skied his shot over the bar. It was then Morocco’s turn to attack and Belhanda had a couple of chances to score. The first from outside the box was straight at Patricio but the second forced an outstanding save from the Wolves ‘keeper as Belhanda’s header was powerful and accurate but the Galatasaray playmaker was denied again. Silva was replaced by Gelson Martins but the dominance was still in Morocco’s favour and Benatia should have scored again but his header went over the bar. Morocco kept pressing for a goal and Portugal kept trying to get back into the game with another substitution with Fernandes subbed on for Joao Mario who, like Bernardo Silva, was absent for the majority of this game. With just over twelve minutes to go, Benatia missed another chance to score with another header and really should have scored twice but has been poor in front of goal. Portugal could have settled the game with another Ronaldo freekick but he hit the wall again and could not find a settling goal for his side. That was the last big chance of the match and Portugal clung onto the four minute winner from Cristiano Ronaldo’s header. Amrabat looked like Neymar against Guerreiro and had the beating of him the whole game. Portugal won’t care about how they won and will be glad they have won only their third game in their last nine World Cup tournament games (W3, D4 L2).
The skipper could not replicate Ronaldo’s impact for Portugal at the end of the first half (Image from calciomercato) |