World Cup: Morocco shock Belgium to snatch late win

Morocco pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over Belgium at the World Cup on Sunday to edge closer to a place in the last 16.

Second-half goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal sent Morocco top of Group F on four points, one ahead of Belgium.

Sabiri’s free kick from near the corner flag caught out Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the near post as it curled in for the 73rd-minute winner, securing only Morocco’s third victory at the World Cup finals.

Aboukhlal’s goal came on the counter-attack, set up by Hakim Ziyech as Belgium were caught pressing forward for the equaliser.

The North Africans also had the ball in the net with the last kick of the first half as Ziyech’s free kick eluded everyone in the penalty area and caught Courtois unsighted, but a VAR check found skipper Romain Saiss had been just offside.

Morocco moved on to four points from two games with Belgium on three. Canada and Croatia meet later in Sunday’s other Group F clash.