FIFA World Cup Live Updates: Portugal vs Morocco
All the action, on and off field from day 7 of the FIFA World Cup 2018; Portugal take on Morocco and Spain face Iran in fresh Group B matches; Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture
Portugal vs Morocco: Starting line-ups
Portugal starting XI: Rui Patrico (GK), Pepe, Raphael, Fonte, Cedric, Moutinho, Mario, Bernardo Silva, William, Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Guedes
Morocco starting XI: Kajoui (GK), Hakimi, Da Costa, Benatia (C), Dirar, Ziyach, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Boussoufa, Amrabat, Boutaib
Up next tonight at 8:30 is Uruguay facing Saudi Arabia. Later tonight Spain will face Iran at 11:30
Group B standings:
1. Portugal: 2 matches, 1 win, 1 draw, 4 points
2. Iran: 1 match, 1 win, 3 points
3. Spain: 1 match, 1 draw, 1 point
4. Morocco: 2 matches, 2 losses, 0 points
And it's game over in Moscow!! Portugal 1-0 Morocco
After a promising start with a goal by who else but Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese slowed down and made just a few efforts at scoring. Morocco, on the other hand, tried hard but it was not to be. They become the second team to leave the FIFA World Cup 2018, after Egypt. Portugal need to up their game, with more formidable opponents coming up.
Now Morocco misses a sitter in the 93rd minute
Benatia fires a shot way too above the goal
Yellow card Adrien Silva
5 minutes of added time
And another chance for Morocco in the final minute of playing time. Ziach's shot is deflected away, Morocco wins a corner
Moutinho is replaced by Adrien Silve for Portugal in the 89th minute
Ronaldo fouled inside the box, but Referee misses to spot and Portugal is denied a penalty. No VAR intervention either
Ronaldo fouled merely a feet outside the box, free-kick from a very dangerous position for Portugal
Ronaldo hits the wall again
Now a shot from Portugal towards the goals, but it's too wide
And another corner for Morocco in the 81st minute, but Morocco can't convert chances into goals today
A corner for Morocco in the 80th minute now
And another chance but no goal
CHANCE: And another chance for Morocco, merely centimeters wide of the goal. Morocco running out of luck here, and out of time too
Another free-kick for Morocco from a convertible position in the 78th minute
Substitution for Morocco
Belhanda makes way for Carcela
Free-kick for Morocco from right outside the box in the 65th minute
Ziach’s shot is inches above the post in another chance for Morocco
CHANCE: And another chance for Morocco, but no goal yet
Belhanda delver’s a perfect cross inside the box, but
First change of the match for Portugal
Martins replace Bernardo Silva in Potugal’s first substitution
ANOTHER CHANCE: Patricio to Portugal's rescue again
Belhanda’s header in the 56th minute is saved ever so calmly by Rui Patricio, the Portuguese keeper
CHANCE: Another one, just a chance yet again!!
Belhanda fires in a shot from inside the penalty area, but Patricio collects a firing shot with calm and ease
Ronaldo...... He shots is way too high
It was a golden chance in the 50th minute, Ronaldo finds space inside the penalty area, has ample time to score his and Potugal’s second, but his shot flies into the sky, miles away from the goal post
Corner for Portugal in the 47th minute
Moutinho passes it short to Raphael, who fires it in in the box. But Portugal can’t extract a goal fro this good cross
Second half underway
End of first half: Portugal 1-0 Morocco
After Ronaldo’s header in the fourth minute, Portugal has done well to defend a flurry of shots from the Moroccans. Morocco will feel unlucky as well as on a couple of occasions, the ball has either gone wide or high by inches but not inside the goal.Portugal too had an easy opportunity to double their lead but Guedes made a mess of a sublime Ronaldo assist. A terrific game of football in the first half, the second half only promises to be better. Can Morocco come back? Or will it be Portugal who will add to their tally of goals? Join us back in a while!!
Morocco ALMOST equalises. Almost again!! Ziyach's shot into the box is headed just a little wide of the goalpost
3 minutes of stoppage time in the first half
CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco, but no goal
Almost another goal for Portugal! Kajoui makes a brilliant save
Ronaldo passes to Guedes, who misses a sitter. He could have taken a moment to shot, but fired in the shot a little too early. yet, Kajoui had to do his part and he played it brilliantly to deny Portugal second goal
Morocco playing some good football, but are unable to convert their effort into a goal
Corner for Portugal in the 33rd minute, but to no avail this time
Ronaldo from short distance, oh he hits the wall
Free-kick for Portugal right outside the Moroccan penalty area in the 32nd minute
Big appeal for penalty by Morocco, but both Amrabat and Guerreiro seemed to have pulled each-other, that too outside penalty area
Ronaldo fouled in the 26th minute, free-kick for Portugal
Ziyach shots from outside the D in the 23rd minute, easy save for Rui Patricio
CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco in the 19th minute, good defending again by Portugal
CHANCE: Another chance for Morocco here. But Portugal defends well to deny Morocco an equaliser
Da Costa's header is too wide for Patrico to be concerned
Another corner for Morocco in the 14th minute, Morocco on attack here
Morocco attempts another shot on target. What a save by Rui Patrico, the Portuguese goalie
Corner for Morocco in the 11th minute
Morocco on attack now, oh nearly a goal for Morocco now!! Header merely flies above the goal post
Ronaldo shoots, just wide of the goal. It was so nearly another goal for CR7, but remains 1-0
Chance for Morocco on the break-away, but derives nothing out of it
Portugal 1-0 Morocco
85th goal for Ronaldo, becomes the second highest goal scorer in International football
Another corner for Portugal, CR7 scores a header in the 4th minute
First corner of the match for Portugal as Bernardo Silva's delivery into the box is deflected by the Moroccan defender
Morocco showing some intent in the beginning. First shot on goal in the very second minute
Portugal vs Morocco: Morocco kick-off the first half at the Luzhniki stadium
National anthems underway at Stadion Luzhniki
Portugal vs Morocco: 10 minutes to kick off
Portugal vs Morocco: One hour to go for kick-off
Can Ronaldo break another milestone today?
With 84 goals, CR7 is tied with Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskas for the second highest goals in International football. Iranian Ali Daei leads the chart with 109 goals. Can Ronaldo surpass Puskas against Morocco? Less than an hour and a half for the Kick-off
Recent form of both the teams:
While Portugal is undefeated in their last five outings (3 wins and 2 draws), Morocco has drawn and lost one match each and have won the other three encounters. The 2018 world cup started for Morocco with a draw against Spain, while Morocco lost to Iran through an own-goal in the dying seconds of the injury time (90+5)
Portugal vs Morocco, head to head:
In the only match played between the two sides way back in 1986, Morocco had defeated Portugal 3-1 to register their first ever victory at the World Cup finals. Can the African team turn the clock back and repeat history?
The Iranian team heads to the Luzhniki Stadium
With 3 goals in 1 match, 2018 is already Ronaldo's best World Cup ever. Can he turn his first match heroic into Golden Boot at the end of the season?
Ronaldo’s performance so far at the world cup finals:
2006: 26 shots, 1 goal
2010: 22 shots, 1 goal
2014: 22 shots, 1 goal
2018: 4 shots, 3 goals
The Portuguese team take a stroll outside their hotel. Just two hours to before #PORMAR kick-off
"Tonight we can make history," Iran captain Ashkan Dejagah is confident of his team's clash against 2010 champions Spain
Coincidentally, Iran's Majid Hosseini celebrates his birthday today. Can the birthday boy lead his team to a victory that will guarantee a place in the next round?
After a 5-0 onslaught against hosts Russia, Taisir Al-Jassim is hoping for Saudi Arabia to bounce back. Watch him talk to FIFA TV
Nacho, the Spanish defender who scored a crucial goal against Portugal, had thought his career would be over without even a start at an adolescent age due to diabetes, tweeted FIFA. Can Nacho add another goal to his tally against Morocco?
After 3-3 draw against Spain, Portuguese striker Andre Silva expects "another hard match" against Morocco; tweets FIFA
Moroccan fans arrive in Russia for their national team's clash against Portugal
De Gea to play despite poor performances, confirms Spanish Coach Fernando Hierro
It has been confirmed by Fernando Hierro that De Gea will play toninght, despite terrible outings for Spain in last couple of matches. In the last match against Portugal, De Gea made a terrible mess of Ronaldo's second goal.
"We'll work for our people and our flag to succeed," Iran's Omid Ebrahimi told FIFA TV
"Spain and Portugal are good teams, but we are not lost and our efforts are for success," Ebrahimi added
"We have the ability to do better than against Spain," says Fernando Santos, the Portuguese coach
"It will not be an easy game," says Portuguese defender Pepe ahead of match against Morocco
June 20 FIFA World Cup 2018 Match Schedule (IST)
Portugal vs Morocco | 5.30 pm
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia | 8.30 pm
Spain vs Iran | 11.30 pm
Ronaldo's Portugal look to continue momentum against lowly Morocco in Moscow
Smarting after a last-gasp defeat to Iran, Morocco will have to deal with the peerless might of Portugal, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, who will attempt to follow up his World Cup opening game heroics when the two sides meet for a Group B clash here on Wednesday.
Five-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo grabbed a hat-rick as European champions Portugal snatched a 3-3 draw against Spain in a heavyweight showdown in Sochi.
It was Ronaldo's 51st career treble, and the 51st in the tournament's history, as the Real Madrid superstar became just the fourth player to score in four World Cups.
In hot form, Ronaldo will once again look to continue his magic at the Luzhniki Stadium and haul Portugal into the last 16.
Spain eye first win against Iran in Kazan
Spain will look to ease pressure on them with their first win of the ongoing FIFA World Cup, while Iran will aim to register their second consecutive triumph in the Group B when the two sides clash here on Wednesday.
Spain tied 3-3 with Portugal on Friday in their first international match under newly-minted head coach Hierro, who took the job just two days before the World Cup after Julen Lopetegui was sacked for announcing he would lead Real Madrid next season.
For 2010 World Cup champion Spain, the draw had felt more like a defeat.
Spain and Portugal are tied for second in Group B with one point each, while Iran lead the group with three points after beating Morocco 1-0 earlier Friday, thanks to an own goal from Aziz Bouhaddouz.
An Iran win, though improbable on paper, will take them to the Round-of-16, while weakening the 2010 edition winners' chances of progressing to the next round.
Saudi coach Antonio Pizzi looking for improvements as Saudi Arabia face Uruguay
Saudi Arabia chief coach Juan Antonio Pizzi promised his footballers would do everything possible to put the 0-5 defeat his side suffered against Russia in their opening FIFA World Cup game behind them when they face Uruguay on Wednesday.
Defeat to Uruguay would send the Saudis home from the World Cup, but speaking in his pre-game press conference, Pizzi stressed the importance of his side giving a different image on the pitch, reported Xinhua news agency.
Welcome to National Herald's FIFA World Cup 2018 match day live blog
All the action, on and off field from June 20, day 7 of the FIFA World Cup 2018 as Portugal take on Morocco and Spain face Iran in fresh Group B matches; Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture
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