Belgium vs Morocco final score, result: Atlas Lions claim stunning win to edge towards World Cup knockouts

Morocco shocked 2018 semifinalists Belgium with the greatest result in their World Cup, history thanks to two second-half goals.

Substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal struck in the latter stages, and Morocco fully deserved their win with a determined display against a poor Belgian side who once again failed to live up to their ‘Golden Generation’ status.

Hakim Ziyech also had a goal chalked off for offside by VAR at the end of the first half when a free-kick from a tight angle eluded Thibault Courtois.

Belgium’s keeper was at fault again for the first goal, put off by Romain Saiss at his near post but still allowing the ball to squeeze in past him.

Despite a myriad of attacking talents out on the pitch late on, Belgium did little to worry Morocco before Ziyech broke away on the right to feed Aboukhlal for the clincher in added-on time.

Morocco also overcame the loss of first-choice keeper Yassine Bounou just before kickoff after he complained about an eye problem. His replacement, Munir Mohamedi, acquitted himself well and played his part in a famous win that ahead of Canada versus Croatia leaves Group F wide open.

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Belgium vs Morocco final score

Goals:


MOR — Sabiri (73 mins)

MOR — Aboukhlal (93 mins)

Confirmed lineups:

Belgium (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, 15. Meunier — 21. Castagne, 18. Onana, 6. Witsel, 16. T. Hazard — 7. De Bruyne, 23. Batshuayi, 10. E. Hazard

Morocco (4-3-3, right to left): 12. Munir Mohamedi (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah —  7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

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Belgium vs Morocco as it happened, highlights from 2022 World Cup

Alarming facts for Belgium fans here:

7 – Belgium have lost seven of their last 19 matches in all competitions (W9 D3), as many defeats as they’d suffered across their previous 74 games combined (W57 D10). Alarming. pic.twitter.com/4c3WzLI6DJ

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 27, 2022

UK readers can take a look at this:

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 27, 2022

And here’s the second – US only:

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 27, 2022

Morocco’s first goal – Australia only:

— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) November 27, 2022

It is only Morocco’s third win in a World Cup finals! Brilliant stuff.

FULLTIME! What a win for Morocco! Their players fall to the ground as the enormity of their greatest win in the World Cup hits them!

GOOOOOAAALLLLLLL!!! 2-0!!!

Ziyech pulls it back from the right and Aboukhlal clips it into the top corner of the net to send Morocco into raptures on and off the pitch!!!

91 mins: We are in five minutes of added-on time.

89 mins: Excellent from Hamdallah as he wanders downfield into the area, but realizing he is on his own he buys time and wins a corner — Morocco’s first.

87 mins: It is raucous in the Al Thumama Stadium now as the Morocco fans try to drag their side over the line. Belgium have a raft of attacking talent out there but they are failing to worry Munir in Morocco’s goal.

82 mins: Vertonghen climbs to a corner, but he cannot get the power required and it drifts wide.

81 mins: Finally, he’s on in place of Meunier. He’s not fully fit but just 10 minutes or so are left.

80 mins: Lukaku is set to come on, but the ball refuses to go dead to let the striker on!

77 mins: Morocco are scenting a famous win, but Belgium have responded well to that goal, keeping the ball for long stretches.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLL! Sabiri scores for Morocco!!

Ex-Huddersfield Town man Sabiri whips in a free kick at the near post from a tight angle, Saiss’ position fools Courtois and the ball squeezes in! Just like the first half — except this one counts!

Boufal, En Nesyri are off, Aboukhalal and Hamdallah are on — Boufal not happy.

70 mins: De Bruyne tries to thread the ball into a dangerous area but Aguerd makes a vital sliding stop near the penalty spot, and then applauds himself for his efforts.

66 mins: Attiat-Allah and Sabiri replace Amallah and Hakimi for Morocco. 

64 mins: It is opening up now! Mertens shoots from the edge of the box and Munir makes a good block right in front of his face.

63 mins: Boufal volleys the ball back across the face of goal from byline, and Vertonghen makes a vital interception, heading the ball away from goal inside his six yard box.

60 mins: Onana and Eden Hazard are replaced by Mertens and Tielemens — Onana misses Croatia with his yellow card today.

56 mins: Oooooh! Boufal eludes Meunier and cuts in to sending a shot curling just past the far post.

51 mins: Eden Hazard gets free inside the area and unleashes a shot that Munir makes sure of low at his near post, parrying away for a corner that Belgium make nothing from.

49 mins: Ziyech gets onto his left foot and fires past Witsel, but the ball goes straight at Courtois.

45 mins: We are back under way, no substitutions yet.

Half-time: Belgium have not quite ‘clicked’ yet, and Morocco should really fancy their chances.

Tale of the tape:

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) November 27, 2022

Halftime, and while Belgium have been a bit better, Morocco have impressed in their few opportunities.

NO GOAL!

After the VAR check, the referee waves it away, possibly for Saiss being offside but it is not 100% clear.

GOOOAAALLLLLL! Ziyech scores for Morocco!

A free-kick from the right is whipped in, two Morocco players get in front of the keeper and it goes in. But hang on, VAR check imminent.

38 mins: De Bruyne gets a rare chance to shine at a free kick, which he curls a long way over from the left hand side.

34 mins: Hakimi breaks into Belgium’s box on the right and hammers a shot from an angle over the bar. The ball then slams into the camera on its arm high above the goal.

32 mins: Meunier slips down the right and sends a low ball over, it’s cut out by Munir Mohamedi but the Hazard brothers were pleading for it further back from goal.

27 mins: Yellow card — Onana of Belgium is booked for a high arm in an aerial challenge, and that means he misses the Croatia game with this second yellow at Qatar 22.

22 mins: Courtois is a bit casual with the ball at his feet almost on his line as En-Nesyri flies in, but a cute little move then sees the Belgian keeper thrash the ball downfield.

20 mins: Morocco finally get downfield and Ziyech unleashes a shot from long range that is just too high.

18 mins: Mounier drills a low shot straight at Munir Mohamedi as Belgium tighten their grip.

15 mins: Our first real sighting of De Bruyne sees a cute free kick set the Man City up for a shot that is deflected off for another corner. Morocco hold firm again.

13 mins: Morocco repel that attack but are winning in the stands – there’s lots of whistling when Belgium are on the ball.

12 mins: Belgium are in control and have had a couple of corners, and now another as Saiss opts to nod behind.

7 mins: This match is already a notch or 10 up on Japan-Costa Rica — quicker, slicker and entertaining.

4 mins: Slick stuff from Belgium, Thorgan Hazard finds Batshuayi and Munir Mohamedi has to close him down to concede a corner.

1 min: Ziyech goes on a darting run but loses control at the last second, but afterwards Vertonghen and Meunier have a heated discussion involving lots of arm-waving.

Kickoff: And we are off!

5 mins to kickoff: The teams are out and we have had thee anthems. The stadium is in shade but it will, of course, still be brutally hot in there.

10 mins to kickoff: Belgium did not overly impress against Canada, but a win today and they are through. Morocco’s goalless draw with Croatia gives them some hope.

25 mins to kickoff: Right, how far into this live blog can I get until I refer to Belgium as dark horses?

Agh! But they usually are. I have to admit that I have a soft spot for them, based on the excellent Belgium sides of the 80s — Van der Elst, Ceulemans, Scifo etc. They were close to beating England in 1990.

35 mins from kickoff: Can the Red Devils edge closer to the last 16 or will Morocco push for a first knockout spot since 1986…..KO is just over 30 mins away!

COME ON BELGIUM! 😈 #DEVILTIME #BELMAR pic.twitter.com/AkyKeqYYiF

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 27, 2022

1 hr from kickoff: TEAM NEWS IS IN!!!

Three starting changes for Belgium as Thomas Meunier, Thorgan Hazard and Amadaou Onana start in place of Leander Dendoncker, Yannick Carrasco and Youri Tielemans.

Sunday XI. 🇧🇪 #SelectedbyPwC #BELMAR #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/QPcF4UGhU9

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 27, 2022

Morocco are unchanged from their 0-0 draw with Croatia.

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) November 27, 2022

1 hr 30 mins from kickoff: Will there be another slightly awkward award for KDB at full time in Al Thumama?

“I don’t know why I got the trophy. Maybe just because of my name.” pic.twitter.com/pQDo5lSNhd

— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) November 23, 2022

2 hrs from kickoff: The stage is set in Al Thumama with KO two hours away in Group F

We’ll be playing at the Al Thumama Stadium. 🏟🇧🇪 #BELMAR #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/6DYxeWEeEJ

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 27, 2022

2 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Eden Hazard on Belgium’s World Cup chances

“To be fair, I think we had a better chance to win four years ago”, he said.

“The team was better in 2018, but still we have the quality to win games and competitions. We have a few guys who are a bit older.

“We have the best goalkeeper in the world (Courtois), one of the best midfielders in the world (De Bruyne) and we have good strikers. We are a complete team.”

3 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: Roberto Martinez confirms Romelu Lukaku will miss out against Morocco 

Martinez has offered a key update on Romelu Lukau’s fitness after the Inter loanee missed the Canada win due to an ongoing thigh issue.

Lukaku returned to training on Friday but Martinez confirmed he is not match ready.

“Medically Romelu was only going to be available for the third group game, but he’s ahead of where he should be, and the signs are very good”, he said.

“I don’t expect him to be involved against Morocco unless something very good significant changes over the weekend.”

3 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: Despite the positivity of an opening win over Canada, Belgium talisman Kevin De Bruyne is not confident over their chances of glory in Qatar.

Kevin De Bruyne said Belgium have ‘no chance’ to win the World Cup 😳 pic.twitter.com/CAmQQHALum

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2022

5 hrs from kickoff: Not many were especially impressed with Belgium’s World Cup 2022 opener, but the players themselves look to be in good spirits. And why wouldn’t they be? Victory over Morocco could send them into the knockout phase, and it would definitely make them the first team in the competition’s history to win nine group-stage games in a row.

Devilbreakers with Jan & Toby. 🃏 #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/B0TWkuAZTn

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 26, 2022

Belgium vs Morocco confirmed lineups

Thomas Meunier returns to the starting lineup against Morocco in place of Leander Dendoncker in defence.Yannick Carrasco was run ragged at wing-back for 45 minutes against Canada, he is replaced by Thorgan Hazard, with a Premier League swap in Amadou Onana for Youri Tielemans.

Belgium (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, 15. Meunier — 21. Castagne, 18. Onana, 6. Witsel, 16. T. Hazard — 7. De Bruyne, 23. Batshuayi, 10. E. Hazard

Morocco came out of their goalless draw with Croatia bruised. Noussair Mazraoui had to leave the field on a stretcher, but he has been passed fit for this match and Morocco are unchanged.

Morocco (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Bounou (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah —  7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

Belgium vs Morocco live stream, TV channel

Belgium, ranked second in the world, were the pre-tournament Group F favorites and they can lock up one of the two available berths in the Round of 16 by defeating Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium.

But the Atlas Lions will believe they can claim a major scalp based on how poor Belgium looked despite winning their opener against Canada. Even a draw here would probably suit Morocco just fine heading into their final group game against the Canadians.

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