Second time lucky for Morocco as cheeky free-kick tactic helps earn African side surprise victory

Posted by

Morocco produced another one of this year’s World Cup’s big shocks as they beat Europe’s best ranked side in Belgium 2-0 to go top of Group F with a game left to play.

Walid Regragui’s team impressed from the off as Belgium never truly got going, and Morocco thought they took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick from the right was whipped straight into the far corner past Thibaut Courtois, but VAR disallowed the effort, with Roman Saiss deemed to be offside.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first and on 67 minutes, Morocco attempted an identical free-kick tactic to the one employed by Ziyech in the first half, and this time it worked.

Abdelhamid Sabiri’s shot from the right was fired towards the near post, Saiss this time keeping himself onside in front of Courtois and the ball found its way in.

The Africans made it 2-0 in route one fashion with a few minutes left as a goal kick was launched long towards Ziyech, whose cutback was finished off by Zakaria Aboukhlal.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi close to agreeing transfer… and he will NOT be rejoining Barcelona

A great result for Morocco, but it’ll be the free kicks that hit the headlines, a prime example that if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

More Stories Belgium FIFA World Cup Hakim Ziyech Morocco Thibaut Courtois