RESULTS Belgian national team against Morocco a World Cup 2022 already known. The Atlas lion – nicknamed the Moroccan national team – managed to get the full score after winning with the score of 0-2.
The match took place at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar on Sunday (27/11/2022) evening WIB. Meanwhile, Abdelhamid Sabiri (73′) and Zakaria Abdoukhlal (90+2′) have become a nightmare for Belgium.
Match progress
First round
As soon as the match started, the Moroccan team immediately pressed the Belgian players. Having managed to win the ball, Hakim Ziyech sent a high cross into the Belgian penalty area in the 5th minute. Unfortunately for him, the opposition defense comfortably intercepted his cross.
Next, it was Belgium’s turn to quickly counter-attack. Michy Batshuayi had time and space in the box after receiving a good pass. However, his shot into the bottom left corner was brilliantly saved by Munir Mohamedi.
Just in the 17th minute, Belgium had a chance with a free kick. Kevin De Bruyne decided to kick the ball towards goal, but his attempt failed to threaten the Atlas Lions goal after being well blocked by one of the defenders. Corner kick for the Red Devils.
Both teams still didn’t get a golden opportunity until the 20th minute. Both the Red Devils and Atlas Lions had difficulty dismantling their respective opponents’ defenses. However, in the 21st minute, Morocco made themselves dangerous with a long-range shot from Hakim Ziyech. Unfortunately for him, his shot was inches over the bar.
In terms of ball possession, Belgium are indeed more dominant. However, Eden Hazard and his friends were still locked in building attacks until the 35th minute. Then, Kevin De Bruyne took a 40th-minute free-kick, but unfortunately the ball just crossed the bar.
Afterwards, the two teams continued to look for ways to break the deadlock. Precisely at minute 45+1,
Thorgan Hazard (Belgium) managed to expropriate the ball from his opponent, but he committed a foul and the referee blows his whistle.
Morocco also have the opportunity from a free-kick. As a result, Hakim Ziyech who was the kicker successfully passed the ball past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Unfortunately, referee Cesar Arturo Ramos reviewed Morocco’s goal using VAR.
Consequently, Morocco’s goal will not count as it was disallowed for offside on the advice of the video assistant referee. The score was still glasses for both teams which lasted until halftime.
Second round
From the start of the second half, Morocco tried to threaten the Belgian goal. In the 50th minute Hakim Ziyech remained free on the edge of the area and fired a shot towards the center of the goal. However, Thibaut Courtois made a great save.
Meanwhile, Eden Hazard (Belgium) zig-zagged into the penalty area in the 52nd minute. However, he failed to direct a shot into the right post as the Moroccan goalkeeper made a miraculous save.
Coming on in the 60th minute, Roberto Martinez decided to bring in two new players to add to Belgium’s thumping power. Youri Tielemans has been replaced by Amadou Onana. Then Dries Mertens replaced Eden Hazard.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) made a solo run in the 65th minute but failed to create a chance as an opposing player blocked him. Then, Dries Mertens found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area and fired a powerful shot into the left side of the Moroccan goal. Unfortunately, Munir denied the opportunity with a big two-handed save.
