Muscat Daily

ATLAS LIONS

Late goals fom Sabiri and Aboukhlal help Morocco stun Belgium and take charge of Group F

- GROUP F Belgium morocco

Doha, Qatar - Morocco jeopardise­d Belgium’s World Cup hopes as Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal’s late goals secured a surprise 2-0 triumph in Doha on Sunday.

Belgium, third in Russia four years ago, could have qualified for the last 16 with victory but instead produced another insipid display after their fortunate opening win over Canada.

Substitute Sabiri was the hero thanks to a 73rd-minute free-kick which Thibaut Courtois allowed to bounce in at his near post, before

Aboukhlal grabbed a second in stoppage time.

The tens of thousands of Morocco supporters responded by cheering their team home at a raucous Al Thumama Stadium.

Morocco are level on points with Croatia at the top of Goup F and know they will qualify for the knockout phase for the first time since 1986 if they can avoid defeat against Canada on Thursday.

Belgium, the world’s secondrank­ed side, will have to beat 2018 runners-up Croatia to be sure of going through.

Morocco were dealt a blow after the national anthems when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou appeared to gesture he would not be able to play. The experience­d Munir El Kajoui was sent out in his place.

The Atlas Lions fans vastly outnumbere­d their Belgian counterpar­ts and breathed a sigh of relief when the Europeans almost grabbed a fourth-minute lead.

Hazard played in Michy Batshuayi whose effort from a tight angle was kept out by Munir.

Belgium dominated the early exchanges but Morocco did manage a shot at goal when Hakim Ziyech fired over from distance.

Morocco gain confidence

The African side continued to grow into the contest and Selim Amallah, who was born in Belgium, volleyed into the stands before Achraf

Hakimi blazed a chance off target.

The crowd erupted in raucous celebratio­n when Ziyech’s free-kick flew all the way into the net in firsthalf injury time.

But the goal was

ruled out

presentabl­e

after a

VAR check, as

Romain Saiss was leaning just offside and the former Wolves defender was in ‘keeper Courtois’ eyeline.

 ?? (AFP) AFP ?? Morocco players celebrate Zakaria Aboukhlal’s (top, R) goal against Belgium in their Group F match at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday
(AFP) AFP Morocco players celebrate Zakaria Aboukhlal’s (top, R) goal against Belgium in their Group F match at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday

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