Morocco’s Mohamed Nahiri celebrates with Yahya Jabrane and Achraf Bencharki after scoring a goal against Palestine at Al Janoub Stadium, yesterday.
Doha: Morocco brushed aside Palestine 4-0 at the Al Janoub Stadium in their FIFA Arab Cup 2021 Group C opener. Two goals from Abdelilah Hafifi in between strikes from Mohammed Nahiri and Badr Benouin was enough for the top-ranked team to seal the victory.
The vast difference in quality between both teams was evident all game as Morocco dominated proceedings, recording 18 shots as the Palestinians only managed two shots attempts.
Ismail El Haddad, who plies his trade for Al Khor, started lively down the right. The 31-year-old beat his marker before sending a low cross into the box but Karim El Berkaoui could only find the side netting.
Again good work down the right carved open the Palestine defence, but Achraf Bencharki blazed over from close range.
Palestine struggled to keep the ball, and Morocco’s persistent attack soon paid off with the opener at the half-hour mark.
Mohammed Nahiri received the ball from Marwane Saadane and saw his effort from almost 30 yards fly into the top corner past the flailing hands of goalkeeper Amr Kaddura, who should have done better.
Palestine finally had a shot on target in the 42nd minute as Anas Zniti easily held Mohammed Rashid’s long-range strike.
Ten minutes into the second half, Abdelilah Hafidi made it two for Morocco. Mohammed Chibi’s searching cross found Hafidi on the far side, and he made no mistake with Kaddura rooted to the spot.
Morocco fans celebrate after their team beat Palestine 4-0 yesterday. Pictures: Rajan
Minutes later, the Raja Casablanca midfielder got his second and Morocco’s third thanks to some awful defending. The Palestine defence once again made a mess of clearing their lines, and Hafidi took advantage of the space sending a well-placed effort into the bottom corner with Kaddura again at fault.
It could have been four for the Atlas Lions with 20 minutes to go but substitute Walid Azarou’s goal was rightfully ruled out for offside after VAR consultation.
However, Morocco got a penalty five minutes before time after a clumsy foul on Soufianne Rahimi in the box, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
Badr Benouin stepped up and dispatched the spotkick into the roof of the net to seal victory for the dominant reigning champions of the Arab Cup. Mohammed Saleh wasted Palestine’s only clear-cut chance sending a horrible header well wide with the goalkeeper Zniti at his mercy.
Azarous could have made it five for Morocco at the end of normal time, but his acrobatic strike cannoned off the bar for a goalkick.
“We deserved to win the match, and the players made a big effort to win the match,” Morocco coach Hussein Ammouta said after the game.
“Of course, there were some misses, but the most important thing is to win because it will give us confidence in the next match. We play against Jordan and Saudi Arabia next, and of course, they will be more difficult.”
