Two years after Morocco’s historic fourth place at the 2022 World Cup, the Olympic team qualified for the semi-finals of the football tournament after its quarter-final victory over the United States (4-0) this Friday, August 2. The Atlas Lion Cubs will play the first semi-final in their history at the Olympics against the winner of the quarter-final between Japan and Spain.
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From our special correspondent at the Parc des Princes,
We don’t know how many there were, but enough to set the place on fire, make a hell of a noise, and carry their team to a historic semi-final at the Olympic football tournament. Morocco is in the last four and is getting closer to an Olympic medal, the first in football, and it owes it in part to its thousands of supporters who took over the Parc des Princes and its 45,000 seats. In red and/or white, they won the match in the stands against scattered American fans who were barely audible against the Moroccan fury. On the field, the Atlas Lion Cubs were imperial with a domination and control over the match that was clearly reflected in the final score.
As in the first three matches, Morocco relied on Soufiane Rahimi, who scored in each outing and opened the scoring on a penalty half an hour into the game (29th minute). The Al-Ain (Qatar) striker has scored five goals, including three penalties, since the start of the tournament.
Guided by their captain and resident of the place, Achraf Hakimi, PSG player, the Moroccans never really trembled. Except on a beautiful American collective action that Jack McGlynn was unable to conclude despite being alone in front of Munir’s goal (55th). This will have the merit of triggering for the first time ” USA ! ” in the aisles.
The American revolt was nipped in the bud by the second Moroccan goal, well constructed and concluded by Ilias Alhomach (63rd) on a back pass from Abde Ezzalzouli. And to give more symbolism to this victory, captain Achraf Hakimi offered himself a beautiful goal in his stadium at the end of a solitary raid completed by a left-footed strike that knocked out the American goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for the third time that afternoon. El Mehdi Maouhoub then scored the 4th Moroccan goal on a penalty in added time (90th + 1).
Morocco is now one victory away from a guaranteed medal. They will have to win in the semi-final against the winner of the Japan-Spain match, two teams that are among the big favorites, along with France. But since the start of this tournament, the Lionceaux have shown that they have no limits to write their history, two years after their elders in the World Cup.
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