Portugal vs Morocco

Hi, u/BanterBoat here, and welcome to Portugal vs Morocco! Both teams will be looking for the three points, so hopefully we'll see lots of goals and not the first 0-0 of the tournament.

Kick off: 8AM EST, 5AM PST, 1PM UK

Stadium: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Referee: Mark Geiger

How to watch in your country: Here, r/soccerstreams, RedditCommentThread

Any problems with the thread? PM me and I'll try to fix them~

The BanterBoat is always full-steam ahead

Starting Lineups:

Portugal (4-2-2-2): Patricio, Raphael, Fonte, Pepe, Cedric, Moutinho, William, J. Mario, Bernardo, Ronaldo (C), Guedes

Coach: Fernando Santos (POR)

Morocco (4-2-3-1): El Kajoui, Hakimi, Da Costa, Benatia (C), Dirar, Boussoufa, El Ahmadi, Ziyach, Belhanda, Amrabat, Boutaib

Coach: Herve Renard (FRA)

Substitutes:

Portugal: Lopes, Beto, Alves, M. Fernandes, Silva, Dias, Ricardo, B. Fernandes, Gelson, Mario Rui, Quaresma, Adrien

Morocco: Bounou, Taganaouti, Mendyl, Saiss, El Kaabi, Fajr, Ait, Harit, En-nesyri, Bouhaddouz, A. Amrabat, Carcela

Current Group B Table:

Insight:

• A Moroccan loss would crush their progression hopes
• Ronaldo could go missing like he sometimes does unexpectedly, so Portugal will be looking to lessen their dependence on Ronaldo against a weaker Moroccan side
• However he may still pop up with goals given his form and confidence; Guedes looked poor last game and will be trying to prove his place within the starting XI
• Portugal will be heavily pushing for a win in an attempt to edge the first spot place from their competitors, Spain
• Morocco will be looking for a World Cup 1986 repeat when they beat Portugal 3-1

Match Updates:

0': And we're off, Portugal in the white, Morocco in the red, and Morocco to start!

2': CHANCE! Boutaib gets his head on a dangerous lobbed pass, but it goes over the bar.

4': GOAL! A dream start for Portugal! Corner comes in an Ronaldo beats his man to score a powerful header past the goalkeeper! Portugal 1, Morocco 0!

9': Ronaldo takes a shot that drifts just wide- this man is on a mission.

12': CHANCE! A Moroccan corner finds its way to Benatia's head, but Rui Patricio goes down well to save.

31': Portugal with a freekick in a dangerous position, Ronaldo standing over it, but it hits the wall.

39': CHANCE! Ronaldo gives a wonderful lob ball to Guedes, but his shot is narrowly saved by the Moroccan goalkeeper.

40': Medhi Benatia is booked for a tackle from behind on Ronaldo.

45 3': That's the half, it's been a game of few chances and a Ronaldo header.

HT: Portugal 1 - 0 Morocco

45': And the second half starts.

57': CHANCE! Morocco get a header off a free-kick and it looks good, but Rui denies and it goes out for a corner.

59': Portugal: Bernardo Silva goes off for Gelson Martins

61': CHANCE! Benatia gets into a good position from a free-kick and gets a left-footed shot off, but it goes well over the bar.

68': CHANCE! Ziyech gets a free-kick near the goal, but it goes comfortably over.

69/70': Portugal: Joao Mario goes off for B. Fernandes, Morocco: Boutaib goes off for El Kaabi

75': Morocco: Belhanda goes off for Carcela

78': CHANCE! With the exception of the first 10 minutes, Morocco have looked the far superior side, and Morocco almost get one back here with a Benatia header, but it goes wide. Morocco could easily have had more goals in the game should they get a little lucky...

80': One has to consider the usage of VAR in this tournament... while often used to great effect, many dubious calls and penalty shouts have gone without so much a blink of an eye.

86': Morocco: El Ahmadi goes off for Fajr

87': Dive from Ronaldo after a failed free-kick; play continues.

89': Portugal: Moutinho goes off for Adrien Silva

90 2': Free-kick falls favorably for Bentatia on the penalty spot but he blasts is far over the bar, I swear Morocco is cursed.

90 5': And that's the game.

FT: Portugal 1-0 Morocco