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PHOTOS: Ronaldo earns Portugal 1-0 win as Morocco's hopes end

Last updated on: June 20, 2018 20:08 IST

Ronaldo's 85th international goal took him beyond Hungarian Ferenc Puskas's European record, with only Iran's Ali Daei ahead of him on 109.

Cristiano Ronaldo

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring early for Portugal during the FIFA World Cup Group B match against Morocco, at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, on Wednesday. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo powered home a fourth-minute header to give Portugal a 1-0 World Cup victory over Morocco that took them top of Group B on Wednesday and meant the unlucky North African side became the first to be eliminated from the tournament.

 

Ronaldo's fourth goal of Russia 2018, following his hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, took the European champions to four points.

Iran have three points and Spain one ahead of their meeting later on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Portugal’s goalkeeper Rui Patricio makes a crucial save to deny Morocco. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Morocco, who had a real go at the Luzhniki Stadium but failed to convert their chances, are pointless having also lost 1-0 to Iran and cannot progress to the second round.

Despite their battling display, Morocco will rue the unforgivable defending that made all their subsequent good work irrelevant.

They qualified for the finals without conceding a goal in six matches yet somehow opted against marking the most dangerous attacker at the tournament in the six yard box when Joao Moutinho swung in a cross from a short corner and Ronaldo duly buried the header.

It was his 85th international goal, taking him beyond Hungarian Ferenc Puskas's European record, with only Iran's Ali Daei ahead of him on 109.

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo shoots at goal past Morocco defenders Achraf Hakimi and Manuel Da Costa. Photograph: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Morocco, in their first finals appearance for 20 years, regrouped well and showed some real positivity in attack with Hakim Ziyech and Nordin Amrabat seeing plenty of the ball but Portugal generally defended well to limit the danger.

Amrabat was furious at not being awarded a penalty after wrestling with Raphael Guerreiro and the entire squad erupted in outrage.

IMAGE: Portugal defender Pepe competes for a header with Morocco’s Khalid Boutaib. Photograph: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Coach Herve Renard was also ticked off for the new offence of gesticulating to demand a video assistant referee (VAR) review of the incident, which left Amrabat with rugby-style stud-rake marks on his stomach that he insisted on displaying to anyone who would look.

Morocco were the dominant side in the second half and Portugal were grateful to goalkeeper Rui Patricio for a fantastic diving low save to touch clear Younes Belhanda's sharp header, while Medhi Benatia blazed over the bar when he should have scored after an hour.

However, Portugal held out and go on to complete their first-round against Iran while Morocco face Spain, both on June 25.

Source: REUTERS
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