AFCON 2021: Egypt have the bragging rights in the North Africa derby – Egypt v Morocco match report
The Pharaohs are through to the semifinals after coming from behind to defeat the Atlas Lions at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.
Egypt waited till extra-time to take the lead against Morocco, thanks to Mahmoud Trezeguet goal in the 100 minute, after scoring the equalizing goal in the 53rd minute. This win hand them a spot in the last four of AFCON.
Morocco took the lead from the penalty spot after six minutes through Sofiane Boufal before Liverpool’s Mo Salah scored the equalizing goal after 53 minutes.
Aston Villa’s Trezeguet who came on as a substitute for the injured Ahmed Hegazy, scored the winning goal in the 100th minute assisted by Salah.
Match report – first half
Morocco began the match with high intensity and they could have taken the lead in the first minute when Munir El-Haddadi gave Boufal a through ball, but he was ruled offside before he could put the ball into the back of the net.
After five minutes, Egypt’s Ayman Ashraf fouled Achraf Hakimi inside the box, and after VAR review, the penalty was given to the Atlas Lions. It was Boufal who took the penalty.
He fired the shot into the top right corner with his right foot. Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal went the opposite direction.
Egypt 0-1 Morocco
Morocco almost doubled their lead in the 11th minute when Boufal played a clever pass to El-Haddadi’s, but his left footed shot was blocked. Egypt effort to get the equalizing goal before the break ends in futility.
Second half
Trezeguet came on for the injured Hegazy. He almost scored three minutes later for the Pharaohs, but his effort went off target. It did not take long before Salah leveled the score in the 53rd minute.
Egypt’s corner was played into the box, Morocco’s Bounou pulled a great save from the initial header, but he could not save the rebound from Salah, with his left-footed shot from close range.
Egypt 1-1 Morocco
Egypt took control of the game after the equalizing goal.
The Pharaohs almost took the lead right after the restart when Salah’s shot was blocked by Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd.
The match got nasty in the 78 minute, producing three yellow cards. One yellow card for Morocco’s Hakimi and one each for Egypt’s duo of Mostafa Mohamed and Ayman Ashraf.
Morocco came close to taking the lead when Nayef Aguerd’s header after a cross was saved by the Egyptian goalkeeper.
The referee blew the final whistle and the game goes to extra time.
Extra-time
Trezeguet strike in the 100 minute after being set up by Salah won the game for the Pharaohs, to setup a semifinal clash against the Indomitable Lions.
The Pharaohs are the victors in the North African derby. Egypt is defeating Morocco consecutively in the quarterfinals following their triumph against the Atlas Lions in 2017 (1-0).
