DOHA: Morocco pulled off yet another World Cup shock after they defeated last edition’s third-place team Belgium 2-0 here on Sunday.
The likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard are in the danger of a group-stage exit and that would be disastrous for an extremely talented side.
Hazard was taken off after an hour, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was probably at fault for the opening goal.
“We haven’t seen the best Belgium yet,” said Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who has coached the team for six years. “We haven’t been ourselves.”
Substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri gave the North Africans a surprising lead by knocking off a free kick from a tight angle on the left in the 73rd minute that beat one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Zakaria Aboukhlal added the second off a pass from Hakim Ziyech in stoppage time to make as Belgium’s defense was beaten by a speedy 22-year-old forward playing at his first World Cup.
“We are delighted with that after Croatia and Belgium,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui. “That’s absolutely outstanding for Morocco.”
The North Africans clinched their first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only their third ever.
Morocco moved to four points and Croatia is also on four points after beating Canada 4-1.
Belgium has three points and Canada has been eliminated.
