Morocco vs Portugal live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 quarterfinal match in Qatar as En-Nesyri scores the opener for Morocco

By | December 10, 2022
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Morocco will look to continue their remarkable 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign when they take on Portugal in the quarterfinals.

The only African team remaining in Qatar, Morocco topped their group before beating Spain in a penalty shootout in the last 16 to spark jubilation among their vast travelling support.

Portugal also managed to top their group and smashed Switzerland 6-1 in the Round of 16 to highlight their title credentials, with rookie striker Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick.

It remains to be seen whether Cristiano Ronaldo will regain his place in the lineup as Portugal push for the last four.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Morocco vs Portugal at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the quarterfinal match in Qatar.

MORE: Morocco vs Portugal: Prediction and best bets for quarterfinal

Morocco vs Portugal score

  1H 2H Final
Morocco 1 — —
Portugal 0 — —

Goals:
42nd min — MAR — Youssouf En-Nesyri

Confirmed lineups:

Morocco confirmed lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 25. Attiyah Allah — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

Portugal confirmed lineup (4-3-3): 22. Costa (GK) — 2. Dalot, 3. Pepe, 4. Dias, 5. Guerreiro — 25. Otavio, 18. Neves, 10. Silva — 8. Fernandes, 26. Ramos, 11. Felix

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Morocco vs Portugal live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

HALFTIME: Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Catch your breath! A furious finish to the half sees Morocco ahead at the break, with Portugal really struggling to keep up. Both sides have had good chances, but the European side will feel they were beaten well through that first 45 minutes. They did better than Spain to find openings in the Moroccan organization, but it hasn’t resulted in many more opportunities in front of net.

Credit the Morocco midfield, which is running the show and forcing Portugal to lump it long, hoping to bypass the middle of the pitch. Azzedine Ounahi has been the pick of the lot, completing 17 of 18 passes, creating two chances, and winning three of his four ground duels.

Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal is the difference at the break! Will we see Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half with Portugal chasing the game?

Morocco vs Portugal: First half

45+2 min: Chance, Morocco! The game has exploded to life after the goal! Portugal are screaming for a penalty after a foul on Bruno Fernandes in the penalty area, but it’s waved away. Down the other end, Morocco nearly have a second on a wide-open counter, but left-back Yahia Attiyat Allah whips the shot wide left.

45th min: Chance, Portugal! Well, now it’s a nervy moment for Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou! A speculative delivery (was it a cross or a shot?) from the right by Bruno Fernandes dips up and over Bounou and rattles the crossbar! How he got that on frame on the volley is baffling, but it’s close to the equalizer!

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42nd min: GOAL! MOROCCO! They’ve got their precious opener! It’s a HUGE mistake from Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who comes out to punch away a cross by Yahia Attiyat Allah, but completely misses. He’s beaten in the air by Youssef En-Nesyri, who makes amends for his pair of misses earlier and bags the opener on his third opportunity.

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37th min: Oh my days Achraf Hakimi, what a backheel flick down the right touchline to spring a breakaway! It comes to nothing as Portugal cut out the chance in midfield, but that was saucy! A gorgeous bit of skill from the talented PSG full-back.

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35th min: Chance, Morocco! All their attacks have come via counters, and they work another incisive break down the right which moves to the opposite flank on a great switch from Azzedine Ounahi. Eventually they find Selim Amallah wide open from a central area, but his rifled shot is golfed way over the crossbar. It’s a very poor finish from a very dangerous location, Morocco will need to put those away if they have any mind of scoring on this Portugal defense.

31st min: Chance, Portugal! Again, Portugal cause problems with a ball from deep that bypasses the Morocco midfield, and it bounces to the feet of Joao Felix at the top of the penalty area. He lets rip on the volley, and it’s an excellent effort, but takes a slight deflection and fizzes just inches over the crossbar. The closest they’ve come yet!

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29th min: Portugal seem to have the right ideas in breaking down this Morocco side, which is more than Spain could say, but the execution has largely been poor thus far. A long-ball for Raphael Guerrero from Bruno Fernandes down the left is too deep, and wastes possession. The Morocco midfield, which seemed to expend so much energy in the Spain game, has again looked tireless.

26th min: Chance, Morocco! En-Nesyri again gets his head to a delivery, this time from a free-kick straightaway in midfield after a Ruben Neves foul, but he flubs it, sending it way over the crossbar. That’s the second headed chance for the Moroccan striker, but he’s come up empty with both.

22nd min: Morocco have a pair of corners, but they’re wasted, especially the second which is taken short but never found service into the 18-yard box.

Down the other end, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is thumped hard in an aerial duel with Bruno Fernandes but gets up and will continue.

18th min: Spain struggled to pass their way through Morocco, and Portugal have clearly chosen to attack them differently. The attack against Morocco for this match has focused more on using the full-backs in wide areas or going over the top with long balls. It’s created many more openings than Spain found through their 120 minutes.

13th min: Portugal again look quality from a set-piece delivery, almost identical to the previous free-kick, but a whack from Raphael Guerrero is blocked before it can reach the target. The hit was vicious and appeared to be headed on frame had it made its way through the trees.

11th min: Morocco again counter ferociously down the left, but a through-ball for Selim Amallah is picked out and smothered by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

7th min: Chance, Morocco! Off Morocco’s first corner, earned via a counter-attack, Youssef En-Nesyri gets a free header but it’s over the bar! One headed chance for each side, one miss for each side. A bright start to the match!

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5th min: Chance, Portugal! The first real action of the match took a few minutes, but Yassine Bounou is called into action for the first time, likely the first of many. Joao Felix gets his head to a Portugal free-kick, but it’s parried away by the Morocco goalkeeper. A great stop!

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Kickoff: The match is under way! Portugal look to reach their second semifinal in the last 20 years, while Morocco search to become the first African side ever to reach a World Cup semifinal.

Morocco vs Portugal: Pre-match team news, analysis, commentary

7 mins to kickoff: Seems there are some reports of fans struggling to get inside Al Thumama Stadium for this match. Hopefully it subsides and those who paid to be in the stadium can get in their seats soon!

15 mins to kickoff: When it comes to World Cup match predictions, it’s hard to do better than a World Pup. Here’s Helen of Atlanta United, who selects favorites Portugal. You may have your thoughts on Helen’s prediction, but there is no debating that Helen is a very good dog.

30 mins to kickoff: Morocco coach Walid Regraugi before the match: “I’m not sure if Cristiano Ronaldo plays, but I hope he doesn’t. He’s one of the greatest ever and I’d be delighted if he doesn’t play against us.”

For now, that’s come true, but careful what you wish for, coach.

40 mins to kickoff: The tactical battle today will be Bruno Fernandes vs the Morocco midfield structure. Without Nayef Aguerd, the African side is a little softer in the middle, but still should stand tall against this relentless Portugal attack.

Goncalo Ramos got the headlines against Switzerland, but Fernandes has been Portugal’s best player this tournament on the whole. He’s been the highest-rated player of the tournament so far according to statistical website SofaScore, and he has German midfield legend Bastian Schweinsteiger purring.

1 hr 10 mins from kickoff: Lineups are now official, and indeed both injured Moroccan players are out for the Atlas Lions, a big blow.

For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo remains on the bench as Fernando Santos has made just one change to his starting lineup that crushed Switzerland, bringing Ruben Neves back into midfield in place of William Carvalho.

1 hr 25 mins from kickoff: There are two critical players who could be missing from the Morocco lineup today. Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui is a real concern, as he and Achraf Hakimi represent one of the best full-back duos at the World Cup. They could also be missing West Ham midfielder Nayef Aguerd, as both were withdrawn due to injury in the Round of 16 win over Spain.

Their replacements would be Yahia Attiyah Allah and Jawad El Yamiq respectively. Attiyah Allah is a domestic-based full-back, while El Yamiq is a natural center-back who has seen just 433 minutes for Real Valladolid in La Liga this season. The official lineups have not yet come out but are due to any minute, and a pair of BBC reporters with African connections are claiming the two will not be fit to play.

1 hr 40 mins from kickoff: No African nation has ever reached the semifinals of a World Cup. Only three have reached the quarterfinals in history, and none were able to progress. Those teams were Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010, and all three came extremely close.

Cameroon fell on a heartbreaker to England 3-2 in extra-time, downed by Gary Lineker from the penalty spot. Senegal also came extremely close, crushed by a 94th minute extra-time goal by Turkey when golden goals were still in play. Ghana also made it to extra time and then to penalties, but Uruguay advanced 4-2 in the shootout.

2 hrs from kickoff: The countdown to kickoff is ticking and we’re just one hour away from confirmed the starting 11s. Sofiane Boufal and Nayef Aguerd are both doubts for Morocco after being substituted off against Spain. Boufal’s absence would be an especially key blow. 

Portugal have kept a clean bill of health since the group stages but Ruben Dias, Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Neves are all one yellow card away from suspension. 

2 hrs 10 from kickoff: Portugal are likely to lineup without their greatest every player today, after Goncalo Ramos was preferred to Cristiano Ronaldo against Switzerland. This could be Ronaldo’s last World Cup game… 

2 hrs 55 from kickoff: Goncalo Ramos played just 10 minutes in the group stages before announcing himself to the world in the last-16. The Benfica striker smashed an incredible hat-trick past Switzerland in Portugal’s thumping 6-1 win, adding an assist for Raphael Guerreiro.

At just 21-years-old Ramos has been on fire for Benfica this season, scoring 14 goals (all competitions) for the Portuguese side. Now Fernando Santos has a huge decision for the quarterfinal: play the red-hot youngster… or bring Cristiano Ronaldo back into the team? 

Goncalo Ramos of Portugal at 2022 World Cup goal vs Switzerland

Getty Images

3 hrs 10 from kickoff: When the full-time whistle blows and either Morocco or Portugal have confirmed their place in the semifinal, attention will turn to the Al Bayt Stadium. England face defending champions France in an all-star European heavyweight clash, with the winner facing either Cristiano Ronaldo and Co or the African history-makers.

Sporting News has all the latest team news and build-up.

Getty Images

3 hrs 35 from kickoff: All of Africa will be getting behind Morocco today, in their very first World Cup quarterfinal. Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal and Samuel Eto’o’s native Cameroon have all gone home but that hasn’t stopped the legendary ex-Barcelona striker cheering for Morocco. 

4 hrs 10 from kickoff: “A group too close to be broken by outside forces,” says Cristiano Ronaldo, hitting back at the intense scrutiny that has followed his nation. The CR7 circus ramped up in the countdown to Qatar 2022 with Ronaldo’s “betrayed” interview and subsequent termination of his Man United deal. The clamour didn’t die down in time for Qatar, meaning rumours and theories have swirled around Portugal and Ronaldo constantly. So far, their performances have been unaffected… 

4 hrs 30 from kickoff: In this World Cup of high drama and giant killing, Morocco are threatening to trump all fellow underdogs. History is on the line today, as victory for Hakim Ziyech and Co would crown Morocco as the first African nation to play a World Cup semifinal. Spain and Belgium have already fallen to the prowling Atlas Lions, are Portugal next?

Achraf Hakimi Morocco vs Spain

Getty Images

5 hrs from kickoff: Cristiano Ronaldo continues his quest to win the one major trophy that has eluded him — and he might not even be in the starting lineup as Portugal take their next step. We’ll bring you all the latest from the World Cup quarterfinal between Morocco and the 2016 European champions.

Morocco vs Portugal lineups, team news

After going to extra time and penalties last time out against Spain, Morocco’s starting XI will largely depend on how players recover.

If possible, coach Walid Regragui would have loved to stick the players that got the job done in the Round of 16 back out there. However, there are two important injuries to note.

The most notable name absent is full-back Noussair Mazraoui who hails from Bayern Munich at the club level, but was stretchered off late in the Round of 16 win over Spain. Critical midfielder Nayif Aguerd was also a doubt, having suffered a groin injury in the last match as well. They both miss out, unable to even make the bench, a big blow.

There were questions about captain Romain Saiss‘s health in regards to his hamstring, but he has proven fit to start.

Morocco confirmed lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 25. Attiyah Allah — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

Cristiano Ronaldo again starts this one from the bench again after his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick against Switzerland. The 21-year-old keeps his spot up front, with the 37-year-old superstar on the bench.

Joao Cancelo was another who was benched last time out with Raphael Guerreiro and Diogo Dalot favoured in the fullback positions, and those two retain their spots.

Fernando Santos makes just one change from the Switzerland win, with Ruben Neves coming back into midfield in place of William Carvalho.

Portugal confirmed lineup (4-3-3): 22. Costa (GK) — 2. Dalot, 3. Pepe, 4. Dias, 5. Guerreiro — 25. Otavio, 18. Neves, 10. Silva — 8. Fernandes, 26. Ramos, 11. Felix

Morocco vs Portugal live stream, TV channel

This quarterfinal match will be played at Al Thumama Stadium.

Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Sat, Dec. 10 10:00 ET Fox,
Telemundo		 fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Sat, Dec. 10 10:00 ET TSN 1, CTV, RDS (French) TSN site/app, CTV app
RDS app
UK Sat, Dec. 10 15:00 GMT ITV, STV ITVX, STV Player
Australia Sun, Dec. 11 02:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Sat, Dec. 10 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Sat, Dec. 10 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Sat, Dec. 10 23:00 MYT Astro FIFA World Cup 1 Astro GO
Singapore Sat, Dec. 10 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup,
Singtel FIFA World Cup 141		 Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Sun, Dec. 11 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

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