Morocco falls to Portugal in Futsal World Championship

Rabat: In a long-awaited match at the Futsal World Championship today, Morocco faced off against Portugal, but ultimately fell short with a final score of 1-4.

The match is part of the 2024 Futsal World Cup, which is being held in Uzbekistan.

From the kickoff, Morocco displayed strong teamwork and determination. The Atlas Lions quickly found their rhythm, with several attempts on goal in the first half.

However, Portugal’s defense held firm, and the Moroccan squad struggled to convert their chances.

Portugal took advantage early in the match when Erick Mendonça scored the opening goal just two minutes in, putting Morocco on the defensive.

The opposing team extended their lead with Coelho Bruno scoring from a penalty kick in the 19th minute, leaving the Atlas Lions to end the first half on a disappointing note.

In the second half, Portugal scored their third goal in the 22nd minute, again by Coelho Bruno, while Morocco had yet to find the net.

Despite trailing, the Atlas Lions remained resilient, and equalized with a stunning shot from Soufiane El Mesrar in the 33rd minute of the match.

However, Portugal quickly responded, retaking the lead with a fourth goal from Zicky Té in the 39th minute.

As the second half unfolded, Morocco pushed for more goals but encountered constant pressure from the Portuguese players. Despite their determined efforts and flashes of brilliance, they were unable to narrow the gap.

The Atlas Lions missed several scoring opportunities throughout the match, which proved costly. Despite creating multiple chances to find the back of the net, the team struggled with accuracy and composure in front of goal.

In their 2024 Futsal World Cup first match, Morocco secured a 4-2 victory over Tajikistan, signaling a strong start to the tournament.

On Thursday, Morocco’s futsal national team triumphed over Panama with a 6-3 win in the group stage of the tournament. This victory guaranteed the team a place in the Round of 16.

In Group E, which includes Morocco, Tajikistan, Panama, and Portugal, the latter is at the top of the group with 9 points, having not lost a single match.