World Cup 2022: Belgium 0-2 Morocco - Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal seal late win

World Cup 2022: Belgium 0-2 Morocco - Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal seal late win

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

1Courtois15MeunierSubstituted forLukakuat 81'minutes2Alderweireld5Vertonghen21Castagne18OnanaBooked at 29minsSubstituted forTielemansat 60'minutes6Witsel7De Bruyne10E HazardSubstituted forMertensat 60'minutes16T HazardSubstituted forTrossardat 74'minutes23BatshuayiSubstituted forDe Ketelaereat 75'minutes

Substitutes

3Theate4Faes8Tielemans9Lukaku11Carrasco12Mignolet13Casteels14Mertens17Trossard19Dendoncker20Vanaken22De Ketelaere24Openda25Doku26Debast

Morocco

Formation 4-3-3

12Mohamedi

2Hakimi5Aguerd6Saïss3Mazraoui

8Ounahi4S Amrabat15Amallah

7Ziyech19En-Nesyri17Boufal

12Mohamedi2HakimiSubstituted forAttiat-Allahat 68'minutes5Aguerd6Saïss3Mazraoui8OunahiSubstituted forEl Yamiqat 78'minutes4S Amrabat15AmallahSubstituted forSabiriat 68'minutesBooked at 90mins7Ziyech19En-NesyriSubstituted forHamdallahat 73'minutes17BoufalSubstituted forAboukhlalat 73'minutes

Substitutes

9Hamdallah10Zaroury11Sabiri13Chair14Aboukhlal16Ezzalzouli18El Yamiq20Dari21Cheddira22Tagnaouti23El Khannouss24Benoun25Attiat-Allah26JabraneReferee:César Arturo Ramos PalazuelosAttendance:43,738

Live Text

Match ends, Belgium 0, Morocco 2.

Second Half ends, Belgium 0, Morocco 2.

Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco).

Offside, Morocco. Hakim Ziyech tries a through ball, but Sofyan Amrabat is caught offside.

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.

Corner, Morocco. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.

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.

Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Abdelhamid Sabiri (Morocco).

Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) wins a free kick on the left wing.

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.

Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Yahya Attiat-Allah.

Substitution, Belgium. Romelu Lukaku replaces Thomas Meunier.

Axel Witsel (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).

Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco).

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