Morocco pulled off another shock at this unpredictable World Cup, beating Belgium 2-0 to leave Kevin De Bruyne and the 2018 semifinalists in danger of failing to make the knockout stage.
Substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri broke the deadlock on Sunday when he outsmarted Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by whipping in a free kick from a tight angle at the near post in the 73rd minute.
Belgium and Courtois could not say they hadn’t been warned: just before halftime, Morocco had a very similar free kick, taken by Hakim Ziyech, ruled out for a narrow offside after a VAR check.
Zakaria Aboukhlal then guided a shot into the roof of the net off a pass from Ziyech in stoppage time.
Belgium, ranked second in the world behind Brazil, had won their last seven group games at the World Cup.
It was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only the third in their history.
The victory was a triumph for coach Walid Regragui. Since he took over in September, Morocco have kept clean sheets in six successive matches.
Belgium would have become the second team after defending champions France to qualify, had they beaten the Moroccans.
Belgium will play 2018 finalists Croatia in its final Group F match; Morocco will face Canada.
Croatia get last laugh as plucky Canadians sent packing
Andrej Kramaric was on target twice as Croatia battled back from conceding an early goal to end Canada’s World Cup hopes with a 4-1 victory.
Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal with a towering header on Sunday, in just the second minute.
But their trip to soccer’s biggest tournament will end on Thursday against Morocco, the group leaders after a surprise 2-0 victory over Belgium earlier in the day.
Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer also scored for Croatia, runners-up to France at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Canada showed superb energy and attacking intent but Croatia had too much experience and know-how for John Herdman’s team.
(Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Japan stunned by Costa Rica, Group E opens up
Keysher Fuller has scored with Costa Rica’s only shot on target to condemn Japan to a surprise 1-0 defeat at the World Cup.
The result leaves both teams with three points after two games in the World Cup.
Fuller took advantage of a defensive error when Japan failed to clear their lines and then made a second mistake by playing him onside.
Fuller took deliberate aim from the edge of the area and his precise shot just made it into the net off the fingertips of Japan’s goalkeeper, Shuichi Gonda, who should have done better.
The match at Ahmad Bin Ali stadium was tactical and largely lacklustre, particularly in a first half that did not yield a single shot on goal.
The second half was slightly better with Japan pressing throughout until Costa Rica broke through.
Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas came up with several rapid-fire saves in the final minutes to preserve the victory.
Japan have one group game remaining against Spain, while Costa Rica will face Germany.
A victory would have all but wrapped up a place in the knockout stage for Japan after the beat Germany 2-1 first off.
Free flowing FC
Roar Rookie
And with Germany grabbing a point against Spain in Group E they are still in contention to progress. Final round: Spain v Japan & Germany v Costa Rica; You would fancy Spain and Germany but a draw for either Japan or Costa Rica might be enough to progress; Interestingly poised group.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Before Spain vs Germany even finish their second match of the group stage, groups A – F are still hotly contested. Only two teams of the 24 cannot make it to the next stage, Canada and Qatar. Only one team of the 24 has made it to the next stage, France. The only change will be that if Spain beat Germany, then Germany will become the third team unable to make it to the next stage and Spain will become the second to make it. I don’t know my world cup history enough to suggest this, so instead I’ll ask. Is this the closest world cup at this point in tournament? Or has it just been the most surprising with respect to results?