FIFA World Cup 2022: Sabiri, Aboukhlal’s goal help Morocco stun Belgium 2-0
Morocco now have four points in two matches they have played so far with the previous match against Croatia being a draw. On the other hand, the European side has three points in two games with one win and one defeat.
Doha [Qatar], November 27 (ANI): Late goals by Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal powered Morocco to a 2-0 win over Belgium in a Group F match being played here at Al Thumama Stadium. This turned out to be yet another upset of FIFA World Cup 2022.
Morocco now have four points in two matches they have played so far with the previous match against Croatia being a draw. On the other hand, the European side has three points in two games with one win and one defeat.
Belgium started on an attacking note as Thorgan Hazard’s assist helped Michy Batshuayi take a left-footed shot from the left side of the box but the ball went off target.
In the 16th minute, Eden Hazard’s assist helped Kevin De Bruyne take a right-footed shot from outside the box but it was blocked.
In the next minute, Amadou Onana’s header from very close range went too high as Thorgan Hazard’s cross following a corner went in vain.
Yet another assist from Thorgan Hazard went in vain as Thomas Meunier right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
In the 21st minute came Morocco’s opportunity as Achraf Hakimi’s assist gave a chance to Hakim Ziyech. But his left-footed shot from outside the box went too high.
Eight minutes later Amadou Onana of Belgium got a yellow card for a bad foul. The match finally went to stoppage time where Morocco got a free kick and Hakim Ziyech shot on the right wing and went onto hot the nets but the VAR denied the goal.
Both the teams went into half-time without scoring a goal. In the second half too things remained the same. The deadlock broke in the 73rd minute when Morocco’s Abdelhamid Sabiri came up with a brilliant free-kick which went on to find the centre of the goal.
The final nail in the coffin for Belgium came when Hakim Ziyech’s assist helped Zakaria Aboukhlal take a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner to give a commanding 2-0 lead to Morocco.
Surprisingly, the European side had the bulk of the possession having 67 percent of it as compared to Morocco who had just 33 percent. The Belgium team had three shots on target while Morocco had four. (ANI)
