DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Africa lastly has a group within the World Cup semifinals, and so does the Arab world.Morocco delivered a seminal second within the practically 100-year historical past of soccer’s largest match, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal group 1-0 Saturday in one other surprising end result within the first World Cup staged within the Center East.Whereas a tearful Ronaldo headed proper down the tunnel — and possibly into worldwide retirement — after the ultimate whistle, Morocco’s gamers tossed their coach within the air and waved their nation’s flag as they linked arms in entrance of celebrating followers.“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou mentioned. “Morocco is able to face anybody on the earth. We now have modified the mentality of the era coming after us. They’ll know Moroccan gamers can create miracles.”Youssef En-Nesyri scored the profitable aim within the forty second minute to proceed an inconceivable run that has generated an outpouring of delight within the Arab world, inspiring shows in Arab id from followers in several nations.Africa can be rejoicing at lastly having a nation advancing to the degrees sometimes solely reached by European or South American groups. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarterfinals however obtained no additional.Morocco has damaged via, establishing a semifinal match in opposition to defending champion France.The 37-year-old Ronaldo, one among soccer’s biggest gamers however now a fading pressure, didn’t begin for the second straight recreation and got here on as an alternative within the 51st minute. He missed his solely likelihood to equalize in stoppage time.The five-time world participant of the yr is about to complete his profession with out capturing the World Cup or ever attending to the ultimate. He walked proper off the sector after the ultimate whistle, solely briefly stopped by two Morocco gamers wishing to shake his hand and a spectator who confronted him close to the doorway to the tunnel, and was crying as he headed to the locker room.If that is the top for Ronaldo at worldwide stage, he’ll end with 118 targets — a report in males’s soccer — and a European Championship title however not soccer’s largest prize. He solely obtained so far as the semifinals on the World Cup, in 2006.“Our gamers are distressed,” mentioned Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who shrugged off questions on his personal future and added that he didn’t remorse not beginning Ronaldo. “Cristiano is a superb participant and he got here on once we thought it was vital. However no, no regrets.”There’s no motive why this Morocco squad — coached by French-born Walid Regragui and containing 14 gamers born overseas — can not go all the way in which to the title. They topped a gaggle that included second-ranked Belgium and fellow semifinalist Croatia and have now taken down two of Europe’s heavyweights in Spain — after a penalty shootout within the spherical of 16 — and Portugal within the quarterfinals.“Why shouldn’t we dream of profitable the World Cup?” Regragui mentioned. “In the event you don’t dream, you don’t get wherever. It doesn’t price you to dream.”Morocco’s protection has but to concede a aim by an opposition participant at this yr’s World Cup — the one one it has allowed was an own-goal — and it stifled a Portugal group which beat Switzerland 6-1 within the final 16 to thrust itself among the many favorites.In a recreation performed to the backdrop of continuous whistles and jeers by Morocco’s passionate followers, the group relied virtually solely on counterattacks and scored from one among them.A cross was swung in from the left and En-Nesyri leapt between Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to go into the empty internet.Ronaldo, who might be 41 by the point of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, barely obtained a contact of the ball till stoppage time when he obtained in behind Morocco’s protection off an extended ball ahead. His low shot was saved by Bounou.“I used to be afraid he may play,” Regragui mentioned of Ronaldo, “as a result of I do know he can rating out of nothing.”Substitute Walid Cheddira was proven a crimson card for Morocco early in stoppage time for gathering a second yellow card in as many minutes.After Portugal heart again Pepe headed large from contained in the six-yard field within the sixth minute of added time, Ronaldo fell to his knees in dejection.Whereas Lionel Messi might be within the semifinals with Argentina, the opposite soccer nice of this era received’t be.INJURIESMorocco may need to manage with out its two beginning heart backs within the semifinals. Nayef Aguerd missed the sport in opposition to Portugal with a thigh damage and Romain Saiss, Morocco’s captain, was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected left hamstring damage. One other key member of the protection, left again Noussair Mazraoui, was absent due to an sickness whereas Regragui mentioned proper again Achraf Hakimi has been enjoying with an damage.RONALDOCristiano Ronaldo has failed to attain within the knockout stage in any of the 5 World Cups he has performed. He has scored eight targets within the group stage.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___
Morocco reaches World Cup semifinals, tops Portugal, Ronaldo
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