The Moroccan national under-20 team reached the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup,held in Chile,after a well-deserved 3–1 victory over the United States on Sunday at the “El Teniente” Stadium in Rancagua,in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
From the opening whistle,officiated by Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega,the American team put intense pressure on the Moroccan defense,but the fighting spirit and defensive solidity of the Atlas Cubs prevented the opponent from finding the net of goalkeeper Yanis Benchaaouch.
The Moroccan players relied on quick counterattacks,which posed a real threat to the American goal.
In the 31st minute,Fouad Zahouani opened the scoring after a well-organized attack that unsettled the U.S. defense. Cole Campbell equalized minutes later from the penalty spot,ending the first half in a 1–1 draw.
In the second half,the Cubs maintained their strong performance,and Joshua Wynder scored an own goal in the 67th minute to give Morocco the lead again after a well-placed shot. Then Yassine Jassim sealed the win with a third goal in the 88th minute,delivering the knockout blow and confirming the national team’s dominance.
This achievement marks Morocco’s second appearance in the semifinals in its history,following the 2005 edition in the Netherlands,when the Atlas Cubs reached this stage for the first time.
Morocco will face in the semifinals the winner of the Norway–France match,scheduled for midnight Sunday–Monday. The semifinals will be played next Wednesday at 9 p.m. (Moroccan time).
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