Goal

List of goalscorers

1 - 0
End of match

End of match

  • 95'
    FT: Portugal 1 - 0 Morocco!! The full-time whistle blows out in Moscow and it is the Portuguese players who are celebrating. They don't deserve the victory, with Morocco the better side throughout, but they couldn't find the breakthrough and it is Cristiano Ronaldo's header that is the difference!
  • 94'
    Portugal keeping hold of the ball now and surely it is all over for Morocco...
  • 93'
    Another free-kick sees the ball fired into the box, after pin-balling off some bodies it falls to Benatia but the defender can only sky his shot over the bar!!
  • 91'
    The two teams square up to one another as frustrations boil over in Moscow. Replays show Benatia just patted Pepe on the back but the Portuguese defender went down as if he had been struck.
  • 90'
    Five minutes added on for Morocco to find a equaliser.
  • 90'
    Morocco have a corner after Dirar skipped past a few defenders in the box before unleashing a powerful shot which was well blocked by Fonte.
  • 88'
    Portugal now make their final substitution too: Moutinho off, Adrien Silva on.
  • 86'
    Morocco make their final change, bringing on Fajr for the final minutes.
  • 85'
    Ronaldo goes down in the box appealing for a penalty but Amrabat didn't touch him and that really should have been a booking for the Real Madrid forward!
  • 84'
    Portugal now win a free kick just outside the area after Benatia takes out Ronaldo. This is dangerous...
  • 82'
    Portugal finally enjoy some time in the opposition half, threading the ball to Ronaldo but the forward drags his low shot well wide of the far post.
  • 80'
    Morocco have had two corners in quick succession but Portugal somehow keep clearing the danger. This must be agonising for the fans!
  • 78'
    It is a lovely floated ball which finds Benatia but the defender gets his positioning all wrong and ends up catching the ball with his shoulder which flies the wrong side of the post for a goal-kick.
  • 78'
    Morocco have another free-kick. This time it's 35 yards out and Ziyech has stepped up again.
  • 75'
    Morocco make their second substitution: Belhanda off, Carcela on.
  • 69'
    A change for either side. For Portugal, Joao Mario comes off for Fernandes while Morocco replace Boutaib with El Kaabi.
  • 67'
    Morocco have a free-kick just outside the area after a tackle-from-behind by Guerreiro, who is book as he continues to have another bad game in a Portugal shirt.
  • 64'
    No one can fault Morocco's effort in this game. They were unlucky to get anything against Iran and as things stands, they will be unlucky not to get anything from Portugal. But there is still 25 minutes to play and anything can happen at the World Cup.
  • 61'
    Morocco find Benatia in the box from a set-piece and the defender does well to bring down the ball and skip past a defender but his resulting shot is blasted over the crossbar!
  • 60'
    Moutinho is on the receiving end of a hefty challenge but after a few moments on the deck, is okay to continue.
  • 59'
    First change is made by Portugal: B.Silva off, Gelson on.
  • 58'
    Morocco have another free-kick, just off the edge of the area to the left. Portugal clear.
  • 57'
    SAVE!!! Morocco win a free-kick 30 yards out and float it into the box, finding Belhanda who guides his header into the bottom corner but Rui Patricio is there to parry it away for a corner!!
  • 55'
    SAVE!! Belhanda skips free in the box and unleashes a powerful shot at goal, forcing a good save from Rui Patricio who almost fumbled it into danger!
  • 51'
    MISS!! Portugal take a quick free-kick and counter away at goal. Guedes plays through Joao Mario who returns the favour but the youngster scuffs his shot sideways. It tees up perfectly for Ronaldo to hit but he skies his effort into Row Z!!
  • 48'
    In almost a mirror image to their earlier goal, Portugal take a short corner which is then quickly whipped it. This time it is Fonte instead of Ronaldo who gets a header away but his effort is well wide of the target.
  • 47'
    Portugal win a corner after El Ahmadi is forced to hit out and dangerous ball over-the-top.
  • 46'
    Portugal get the second half underway!
  • 45'
    HT: Portugal 1 - 0 Morocco! Despite their fightback, Morocco go into the break a goal down thanks to a bullet header from Cristiano Ronaldo in the fourth minute. But their performance has been encouraging and there is still plenty of time for them to get something in the second half!
  • 45'
    CLOSE! It's floated in and Belhanda gets a guiding header which just escapes the lunge of Benatia who was poaching at the far post!
  • 45'
    Guerreiro gives away a needless foul just on the goal-line. Can Morocco find an equaliser before half-time?
  • 45'
    Three minutes added on to end the first half.
  • 43'
    Belhanda makes a good run down the right to receive the ball, before cutting a dangerous pass across the face of goal. Importantly for Portugal, Fonte is there to clear the danger.
Card

Yellow card

a Marruecos
  • 40'
    Benatia was booked for a late tackle and Morocco's frustration is clear to see as they surround the referee in protest.
  • 39'
    SAVE!! Ronaldo plays Guedes through on the goal and the youngster fires a half-volley but Munir stands tall and gets an important hand to prevent Morocco going two goals down!! How crucial could that be?
  • 37'
    The game has descended into lots of needless fouls, obstructing the flow of the game. This may suit Morocco though, who have fought back hard after that early goal.
  • 35'
    Morocco win a free-kick 40 yards out and pump it into the box but Rui Patricio catches the ball well and under considerable pressure.
  • 32'
    They fight back well though and win a corner. Moutinho to take from the left. Morocco clear their lines as far as the half-way line.
  • 31'
    His effort smacks into the wall. Wasted opportunity for the Iberian side!
  • 30'
    Dirar gives away a needless foul and Portugal now have a free-kick just on the dee. Ronaldo territory...
  • 28'
    Further replays show that although Guerreiro was tugging Amrabat's shirt, the Moroccan winger also had hold of his opposition's shorts. Right call by the officials.
  • 26'
    Morocco appeal for a penalty after judging Guerreiro to have taken down Amrabat in the box but the referee waves play on. The African side are not impressed and their head coach receives a stern talking to after consistent protests fall on deaf ears.
  • 24'
    Ronaldo is down clutching his leg after a late challenge from El Ahmadi. He's okay to continue.
  • 21'
    Morocco have Portugal under the cosh at the moment. They're chasing the ball relentlessly and gaining possession. Can they capitalise?
  • 18'
    Dirar breaks free down the right and cuts the ball back in the box but the Portuguese defence manage to get in front of Boutaib and win a free-kick.
  • 16'
    It's important to note that with that goal, Cristiano Ronaldo is now the highest scoring European in international competitions, with 85 goals.
  • 14'
    Morocco are definitely posing a threat, especially from set-pieces and long balls but at the moment, Portugal have the answer defensively.
  • 11'
    Da Costa wins the header but his effort is too weak and Rui Patricio gets down low to make the save.
  • 11'
    Portugal cut out a pass from Amrabat and Morocco have a corner.
  • 9'
    CLOSE!! Portugal can counter quickly though and they do just that, giving the ball to Ronaldo on the edge of the area. He dances round a few opposition players before trying a shot across goal. It lands just wide of the far post! He's looking very dangerous...
  • 8'
    To Morocco's credit, they haven't let the goal effect them yet and are trying to mount an attack.
  • 6'
    You get the feeling it is going to be a very uphill battle for Morocco to get something from this game now...
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Portugal en el 4'
  • 4'
    GOAL!! PORTUGAL!! It's that man Cristiano Ronaldo! From the corner, the Iberian side take it short but quickly whip it in, surprising Morocco who fail to pick up the Real Madrid forward, leaving him open to easily head the ball into the back of the net for his fourth of the tournament! 1-0!!
  • 4'
    It's almost deja vu except this time it is a shot that is blocked for a set-piece the other side.
  • 4'
    Portugal win the first corner of the match after a cross is deflected out. Bernardo Silva to take.
  • 2'
    Morocco whip in a cross from the left and it finds Boutaib in the box but the striker cannot direct his header on target. Good start.
  • 1'
    Morocco get the match underway!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    There appears to be a lot of Morocco fans in attendance today. They belted out their national anthem, trying to inspire a team that has all to do if they want to qualify for the knock-out stages.
  • PRVW
    The players are gathering in the tunnel. National anthems next and then the football can get underway in Moscow.
  • PRVW
    Warm-ups are nearing an end at the Luzhniki Stadium with just 15 minutes to go until this Group B match kicks off!
  • PRVW
    Formation-wise, Portugal will line up in a rough 4-4-2 with Guedes and Ronaldo spearheading the attack. Morocco, on the other hand, will use a 4-2-3-1 with Boutaib as the lone striker.
  • PRVW
    Portugal's key man today will undoubtedly be Cristiano Ronaldo. He was their Man of the Match against Spain, bagging a hat-trick in the process. Can he add to that tally against Morocco? If he does, he'll be the undisputed leader for the tournament's Golden Boot again.
  • PRVW
    This game is set to be extremely important. As things stand, Morocco are bottom of Group B with 0 points while Portugal are tied with Spain in second with 1. Both sides need to get something from the game if they are going to qualify to the knock-outs so expect lots of attacks.
  • PRVW
    Their opposition, however, make three changes to the side that agonisingly lost 1-0 to Iran at the death. Saiss, Harit and El Kaabi have been swapped for Da Costa, Dirar and Boutaib. Bouhaddouz, who scored that unfortunate own goal, remains on the bench.
  • PRVW
    The Iberian giants make one change from the side that endured that thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain. Bruno Fernandes drops to the bench with Joao Mario taking his place.
  • PRVW
    Morocco: Munir; Da Costa, Benatia (c), Hakimi; Boussoufa, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Ziyech; Dirar, Amrabat, Boutaib.
  • PRVW
    Portugal: Rui Patricio; Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro, Cedric; Carvalho, Moutinho, Joao Mario; B.Silva, Ronaldo (c), Guedes.
Info

Pre-match

20 June 2018, 14:00

Referee: Mark Geiger

Stadium: Luzhniki

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to the Group B clash between Portugal and Morocco.