Morocco surprises Portugal and becomes the 1st African nation in the semifinals of the World Cup

Total Time: Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Morocco forward: In front of a jubilant crowd comprised mainly of their compatriots. The Morocco players celebrate in jubilation. They completed the game well under the cosh but earned a spot in the semifinals courtesy of Youssef En Nesyri's goal just before halftime. They will face either France or England in the semifinal and will take a severe beating no matter which of the European teams earns the right to play them.

MOROCCO IS IN THE PLAYOFF OF THE WORLD CUP

It's over! Portugal is out, and Morocco becomes the first African team in a story to reach a World Cup semifinal. They have triumphed by the game's only goal and have been more than worthy winners. Congratulations to them.

90+8 min: Another cross from Leao to the Moroccan area. Pepe hits the header at the far post but sends a deflected header. That is another terrible miss, but a defender can get a bunt.

Red card: Cheddira is sent off

Morocco up to 10 men. As a substitute, Walid Cheddira is sent off after receiving his second yellow card in as many minutes. This time it is for a silly foul on Joao Félix.

90+2 min: We are at eight minutes of stoppage time, and Bono is forced to stifle a through ball at Ronaldo's feet. This is desperate for Portugal, and Fernades looks frantic with panic. Yellow card for Cheddira for a wicked on Pepe.

90 min: Another ball in the Morocco area is handled comfortably by El Yamiq. Morocco attacks at halftime, and offside Cheddar sends a lame shot. He had a support teammate behind him and should leave it to him.

89 min: Portugal keeps connecting, but a mix-up between Fernandes and Joao Félix leads to another attack that falls apart when the ball rolls wide for a goal kick.

88 min: Free kick for Morocco in the middle of their field. They are in no dash to take it.

85 min: Cristiano Ronaldo and his friends seem increasingly frantic and call for a penalty when Jawad El-Yamiq appears to head the ball with his arm. The referee has none, and those of VAR Towers do not disagree.

84 min: From inside the Morocco penalty area, Joao Félix fires a shot toward the goal and is brilliantly saved by Bono, who hits it with a firm hand.

82 min: Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Zach are dismissed from the field, replaced by Yahya Jabrane and Zakaria Abukhlal.

Boufal is entertained and is rushed by the referee.

81 min: Pepe puts in a leg to deny a gallop from Walid Cheddira on the inside right.

79 min: With Ziyech still out of the field and Morocco with ten men, Ricardo Horta enters for Portugal in the attack. Diogo Dalot makes way.

78 min: It's shaping up to be a tense 15-minute final, with Portugal under relentless tension with a progressively mentally and physically exhausted Morocco team trying to defend stubbornly while attacking at halftime when they can. We have a break in the game when Hakim Ziyech goes down with an injury.

75 min: Morocco takes a rare break and closes in. Cheddar breaks his stomach to come upfield and receive a pass inside but cannot shoot under pressure from a falling-back defender.

74 min: It's kitchen Flop time for Portugal; Morocco sends the ball back into the box. A corner is sent to the remote past, where Joao Felix lurks, but Bono punches clear to be awarded another corner.

70 min: Portugal has brought Rafael Leao, and Vitinha as Morocco switches to five behind. Octavio and Goncalo Ramos make way.

68 min: Bruno Fernandes sent a cross to the distant past with the bedside of his right boot, trying to get Ronaldo out. Bonus claims comfortably.

65 min: Morocco double substitution. They strengthen their back line, removing striker Youssef En-Nesyri and bringing a center back in Badr Benin. The midfielder Selim Amallah also makes his way with the entry of Walid Cheddar. I recall that he missed a few very presentable chances against Spain.

Min. 63: From the edge of the Morocco box, Bruno Fernades takes a touch and then sends a rough shot inch from the crossbar.

60 min: Portugal is piling up the pressure, but Morocco is defending hard, as they have throughout this tournament. Diogo Dalot is robbed by an excellent tackle from Yahia Attiyat Allah, who came on as a substitute for this game and had been standing out at left-back for the African side.

Min 59: There is a rare touch from Ramos, who connects a cross to send a header to the goal of Morocco and deflected.

57 min: No, you can't. Saiss is carried on his shield (okay, on a stretcher), and his tournament is undoubtedly over. He has been an absolute warrior for Morocco, and he gets the applause of the fans. Achraf Dari replaces him.

56 min: After some good work down the wing from Sofiane Boufal, Azzedine Ounahi sends a wild shot over the bar and possibly out of the stadium. There is a pause in the game while Saiss is tended to. Can't go on, sure?

Min 55: A cross from Diogo Dalot from the correct workout in Bono's hands, narrating Goncalo Ramos's run to the post.

54 min: One of Morocco's walking injured along with two of his midfielders, Romain Saiss, appears to be struggling with his damaged hamstring. He is visibly limping and may not take long in this game.

52 min: Ronaldo quickly springs into action down the left flank, firing a cross into the Morocco penalty area. Bonus claims comfortably.

51 min: Portugal double substitution: Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Cancelo for Rubben Neves and Raphael Guerreiro. That took a little time.

49 min: Morocco wins a free kick deflected to the right in line with the onward edge of the penalty area. Ziyech sents the ball into the mixer, where El-Yamiq receives the slightest touches at the near post. Diogo Costa redeems himself by stopping brilliantly at point-blank range.

47 min: In criticizing Diogo Costa's mistake on Morocco's goal, I almost certainly needed to give Youssef En-Nouri more credit for what was a magnificent header. It was a significant jump, and he magnificently directed the ball to the goal.

Second half: Morocco 1-0 Portugal

46 mins: We go away for what could have been a worse second half. There are still personnel changes for both sides, but it is worth noting that at least three Moroccan players have been strong during pre-match preparations.

Halftime: Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Peep! Referee Facundo Tello closes the first half and is immediately surrounded by angry Portuguese players who feel they should have been awarded a penalty for fouling Fernandes shortly after En-Nesyri opened the scoring for Morocco. If I'm being honest, I'll have to rewatch that because a lot was going on. However, in ITV's joint communications, Ally McCoist says there shouldn't have been a kick to the spot, and that's almost certainly good enough for me. Morocco wins at halftime, and an excellent second half awaits us.

45+3 min: Sure! Everything is happening here! Portugal had a penalty appeal turned down after Fernades fell in the Morocco box. The team in white breaks the field into a three-on-three in which they must score, only for left-back Yahia Attiyat Allah to shoot wide when the Portuguese goal was open and only Diogo Jota was left to beat.

45+1 min: Bruno Fernades tries his destiny with a daring volley from wide on the right. The ball bounces off the crossbar and out safely.

44 min: Morocco work the ball down the left flank, and Yahya Attiat Allah loops a cross into the Portugal penalty area. Diogo Costa oscillated before coming to claim the ball but was tripped by N-Nessiri, who made a high leap to head past the helpless goalkeeper.

GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Portugal (En-Nesyri 43)

Morocco leads! Youssef En-Nesyri leads his country, but it's any of a present from Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

40 min: There is a break in the game as Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos receives treatment after a strong challenge from Azzedine Ounahi. He scored a hat-trick in opposition to Switzerland but has barely sniffed the ball this afternoon.

38 min: Speaking of confidence, Hakim Ziyech fools exactly two Portuguese press dealers with an apparent move to send Hakimi running upfield to the touchline. It was a lovely sight that may earn you a pinch in the ankles in the next few minutes.

36 min: Morocco is starting to dominate this game and is visibly growing in confidence after a good start. Sofiane Boufal has a shot from a distance, but her effort, which takes a minor hit off a defender, is relatively weak and straight for the throat of Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

34 min: Morocco attack from the left. Salim Amallah tries to connect with a throwback from Yahya Attiat Allah, but the delivery falls short behind him. Connect but sends a wild effort high and wide.

30 min: Wow! Joao Félix takes advantage of a bad defensive header from Jamaq El Yamiq and shoots on goal from the edge of the area. He takes a deflection off the defender and bubbles narrowly wide. Bono was hopelessly wrong, and he was a disappointment to Morocco.