FIFA World Cup 2022

Morocco strikes late to earn shock win over Belgium

Issued on: 27/11/2022 – 16:01Modified: 27/11/2022 – 16:03

03:29
Morocco’s midfielder #15 Selim Amallah and Belgium’s defender #21 Timothy Castagne look to head the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 27, 2022. © Fadel Senna, AFP

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Abdelhamid Sabiri scored from an audaciously tight angle and fellow substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal added a second in stoppage time as Morocco pulled off a shock 2-0 win over Belgium in World Cup Group F on Sunday.

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Sabiri’s free kick from near the corner flag caught out goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post as it curled in for the 73rd-minute winner, securing only third victory at the finals.

Aboukhlal’s goal came on the counter-attack, set up by Hakim Ziyech as Belgium were caught pressing forward for the equaliser.

The North Africans also had the ball in the net with the last kick of the first half as Ziyech’s free kick eluded everyone in the penalty area and caught Courtois unsighted, but a VAR check found skipper Romain Saiss had been just offside.

Morocco moved on to four points from two games with Belgium, second in the world rankings, on three. Canada and Croatia were meeting later in Sunday’s other Group F match. 

(Reuters)

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