Morocco have officially become the first country to be eliminated from the 2018 Fifa World Cup after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Portugal at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday.
With a match to go, the Atlas Lions, who lost their opening match 1-0 to Iran, will be heading home regardless of what happens in the Spain-Iran game later in the day.
After his hat-trick in their World Cup opener against Spain, skipper Cristiano Ronaldo again scored inside four minutes to put Portugal up after escaping his marker to head home a corner.
Morocco pushed for an equalizer in the second half but could not find a way past Rui Patricio, who made one exceptional save from Younès Belhanda’s header.
The European champions played second best but managed to hold on to the solitary goal.
Morocco conclude their Group B campaign next Monday against Spain in Kaliningrad while Portugal simultaneously play Iran in Saransk.
Source: Footyafrica.com
