Ronaldo inflicts pain on Africa, sends Morocco home
Egypt also suffer early elimination
Moscow – Cristiano Ronaldo powered home a 4th-minute header to give Portugal a 1-0 victory over Morocco that took them to the top of Group B yesterday, and meant the unlucky North African side become the first to be eliminated from the tournament.
Ronaldo’s fourth goal of Russia 2018, following his hattrick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, took the European champions to four points.
Morocco, who had a real go at the Luzhniki Stadium but failed to convert their chances, are pointless having also lost 1-0 to Iran last Friday.
Portugal struggled to impose themselves and ended up defending for long spells.
Despite their battling display, Morocco will rue the unforgivable defending that made all their subsequent good work irrelevant.
They qualified for the finals without conceding a goal in six matches yet somehow opted against marking the most dangerous attacker at the tournament in the six yard box when Joao Moutinho swung in a cross from a short corner and Ronaldo duly buried the header.
Morocco, in their first finals appearance for 20 years, regrouped well and showed some real positivity in attack with Hakim Ziyech and Nordin Amrabat seeing plenty of the ball and Amrabat furious at not being awarded a penalty after wrestling with Raphael Guerreiro.
“I’m not disappointed about the performance, I’m happy with it and very proud of my players,” emotional Morocco coach Herve Renard said.
Portugal complete their first-round against Iran while Morocco face Spain, both on June 25.
Meanwhile, Group A’s Egypt and Saudi Arabia also joined Morocco to the exit after Uruguay’s win over the Saudis yesterday confirmed the two nation’s elimination from the tournament.