AFCON 2020 Match 8: Three Penalties in Morocco’s Win over Mozambique

AFCON 2020 Match 8: Morocco v Mozambique

Three Penalties in Morocco’s Win over Mozambique

June 17, 2020

Morocco 2 Mozambique 1

 

Two penalties for Morocco and one for Mozambique was the order of the day as Morocco defeated Mozambique in their opening AFCON 2020 match.

 

The winner of today’s game would join Algeria at the top of Group D and so it was crucial to get off to an ideal start.

 

Mozambique caught Morocco on an early counterattack and Witi fired from long range but not on target.

 

Down the other end, Hamza Mendyl fired toward goal after his right back teammate set him up for a long-range shot, only to miss to the right.

 

In the seventeenth minute, the Mozambican defence held firm against a series of attacks and semi-shots.

 

Three minutes later, Rachid Alioui had a shot, only with two defenders covering him, the ball did not head towards goal.

 

Mozambique looked dangerous going forward again, with Witi bringing about a save by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

 

Three times Morocco worked down the right wing and crossed in the ball. The third time kept the ball away from Mozambique goalkeeper Júlio Franque, to the head of Youssef En-Nesyri. However, the header flew straight at Franque.

 

In the 41st minute, Nordin Amrabat fired from the edge of the 18-yard box, requiring a deft Franque save. The corner saw a header for goal cleared, before the ball returned to Hakim Ziyach and his shot just missed the right-hand goal post.

 

In the first half’s additional time, a penalty was won. Youssef Aït Bennasser eventually worked with his teammates to then cross from near the right-hand corner to Ziyach. As he tapped it, Manuel Kambala slid in, collecting Ziyach in the process. En-Nesyri made no mistake from the spot, hitting to the right of Franque, who did not dive in the end when he realised he had chosen incorrectly.

 

Mozambique seemed unperturbed at being behind as they attacked down the right in the second half. Telinho was found with a great lob, before setting up Witi, where Bounou had to dive to his left to stop the ball.

 

Telinho took on the Moroccans and shot in the 64th minute, though Bounou only needed to parry it away.

 

Substitute Maninho had a real shot with his head, only to miss the mark.

 

Instead, Ziyach won another penalty for Morocco, this time running into the box and tackled fiercely by Mexer. This time, En-Nesyri shot to the right, doubling the Moroccan’s lead.

 

Ziyach was substituted straight after in the hope of keeping him fit for the next match.

 

Needing to salvage some pride, Mozambique’s Kito and Kambala had their shots blocked.

 

Kambala then brought about a save from Bounou with his effort in the 88th minute.

 

Then, in a shock play, substitute Candinho outsmarted the Moroccan defence and won a penalty when he saw there was no way he would get a goal, so he instead curled his left foot around into a chip pass toward the middle of the 18-yard box, causing Bounou to take out his legs in the process. There were initial cries for a Noussair Mazraoui handball as well, though the referee blew for a penalty regardless. Telinho made no mistake and grabbed the ball immediately.

 

However, four minutes of injury time was not enough, and Morocco held on for the three points in a match of three penalties.

 

Important aspects of the match:

45th-minute penalty by En-Nesyri.

Mexer received a yellow card for his tackle on Ziyach.

74th-minute penalty by En-Nesyri.

89th-miniute penalty by Telinho.

 

Same amount of shots and shots on target for both sides.

Mozambique with eight more tackles and three more fouls.

Almost the same in passing accuracy.

 

Morocco’s best afield: Bounou with five saves; En-Nesyri with the two penalties; Romain Saïss in central defence with five key intercepts and four clearances; Achraf Hakimi with his runs down the right wing in the first half and most passes for Morocco.

Aït Bennasser with most dribbles for Morocco.

Mbark Boussoufa with four intercepts.

Mendyl with three key intercepts and two clearances.

Mazraoui with two key clearances, an intercept and a block.

 

Mozambique’s best afield: Franque with five saves; Telinho with the goal and three key passes; Kito before being substituted with most passes and dribbles overall.

Sidique Mussagi with most tackles overall, four key clearances and two intercepts.

Kambala with two key intercepts and two clearances, but a penalty conceded.

Mexer with four key clearances, an intercept and a block, but a penalty conceded.