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FIFA World Cup 2018 Highlights, Portugal vs Morocco: Ronaldo header the difference as Portugal win 1-0

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Subhayan Chakraborty
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FIFA World Cup 2018 Highlights, Portugal vs Morocco: Ronaldo header the difference as Portugal win 1-0

FIFA World Cup 2018 Live Score, Portugal vs Morocco at Luzhniki Arena in Moscow

FIFA's showpiece event continues as Portugal face bottom-placed Morocco at the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow in the Group B match of the FIFA World Cup 2018, as both sides look for their first win of the campaign. 

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Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal started their World Cup journey with a hard-fought 3-3 draw against 2010 champions Spain as the Real Madrid talisman bagged a stunning hat-trick to earn his side a point. 

Meanwhile, Morocco, who are making their first World cup appearance since 1998, witnessed an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end on Friday with a 1-0 loss to Iran. 

Highlights of Portugal vs Morocco: 

Thanks for joining in, you can follow the Live action from Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia here:  FIFA World Cup 2018 Live Updates: Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia

# The referee checks his watch and blows his whistle to signal the end of this match. FULL TIME: PORTUGAL 1-0 Morocco.

# 90+5' Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) receives an accurate pass and attempts to threaten the goalkeeper with his long-range strike. Unfortunately for him, his effort goes high above the crossbar.

# 90+4' Portugal take a short corner instead of sending the ball into the penalty area.

# 90+3' CLOSE! Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) is a whisker away from finishing-off the move he started. His close-range effort flies just over the bar.

# 90+3' Adrien Silva (Portugal) is awarded a yellow card.

# 90+1' Handball! A player from Morocco handled the ball.

# 90' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) looks like he will be the one to try and deliver a quality ball into the penalty box from the corner kick.

# There will be a minimum of 5 min. of added time.

# 90' CHANCE! Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) misses a good chance to score. An inch-perfect cross into the box finds Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) who rises for a header, but sends the ball well over the bar. The ball is out of play. Morocco win a corner kick.

# 89' Fernando Santos prepares a substitution. Joao Moutinho is replaced by Adrien Silva (Portugal).

# 86' The referee signals that it is time for a substitution and Faycal Fajr (Morocco) comes onto the pitch so that Karim El Ahmadi can be given a rest.

# 84' Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) decides to have a go at goal from the edge of the box, but the wall jumps as one and blocks the free kick. Danger averted!

# 82' Cristiano Ronaldo earns a Free Kick just outside the penalty box!

# 80' The resulting corner from Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) only finds one of the defenders, who heads it out of danger.

# 79' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) goes on a solo run, but he fails to create a chance as an opposition player blocks him. Now Morocco have a corner.

# 78' CHANCE! What an opportunity! Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) leaps high to meet a beautiful cross into the box from the resulting free kick, and he plants a header from near the penalty spot which goes a whisker wide of the right post.

# 78' Joao Moutinho (Portugal) commits an ugly tackle on his opponent, but there is no caution from the referee. Morocco are awarded the free kick.

# 75' The referee allows time for a substitution. Younes Belhanda will be replaced by Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez (Morocco).

# 72' The most active player in today's match is definitely Nordin Amrabat (Morocco). He's trying to be on the ball as much as possible and you can literally see the enthusiasm in his play. He keeps exchanging some one touch passes and waits for the right moment to send a killer pass. What a player!

# 72' Nabil Dirar (Morocco) tackles a bit over-zealously and Mark Geiger blows for a foul.

# 71' Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) brings down the pass, looks up and shoots from distance, but it's straight at a defender who unwittingly blocks it.

# 70' Fernando Santos has decided to introduce fresh legs, with Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) replacing Joao Mario.

# 69' Here comes a substitution. Khalid Boutaib is given a rest as he is replaced by Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco).

# 67' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) unleashes a shot from a mid-range free kick that goes high over the bar. High, wide and not at all pretty.

# 67' Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal) robs an opponent of the ball and explodes in anger when Mark Geiger blows for a foul. A free kick is awarded to Morocco.

# 64' Mark Geiger interrupts the game for a tactical foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal).

# 62' William Carvalho (Portugal) gives away a foul during an attacking move and the referee blows his whistle.

# 61' Joao Moutinho (Portugal) takes the ball and sets it for the free kick.

# 61' Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) makes a rough challenge and Mark Geiger blows his whistle for a foul. Portugal have a free kick.

# 60' CHANCE! Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) makes some space for himself and from mid-range let's fly with a wild effort which goes high over the crossbar.

# 59' The manager has decided to make a substitution and Bernardo Silva walks off the pitch to be replaced by Gelson Martins (Portugal).

# 58' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) floats the free kick into the box, but it's easily cleared by the first man.

# 58' Joao Moutinho (Portugal) brings his opponent down. Mark Geiger has a clear sight of it and blows his whistle for a foul. It's a free kick to Morocco, but it's in no position for a direct shot on goal.

# 58' The corner kick from Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) is headed out of the penalty area by one of the defenders.

# 57' CHANCE! SAVE! CHANCE! Younes Belhanda (Morocco) latches onto a precise cross from the free kick and produces a header at goal from the penalty spot, but his attempt towards the left side of the target fails to beat Rui Patricio, who makes a sensational save. The referee points to the corner flag and Morocco will take a corner.

# 57' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) is going to send the ball in from the free kick.

# 55' A neat pass is well received by Younes Belhanda (Morocco), who is lurking on the edge of the box and strikes the ball on goal. The goalkeeper makes a decent save to block his shot.

# 54' Younes Belhanda (Morocco) is penalised after knocking an opponent down.

# 50' CHANCE! Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) latches onto a short pass from Goncalo Guedes inside the box, but clips his shot high over the bar.

# 49' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) makes a reckless foul in order to win the ball from his opponent. Mark Geiger has a clear sight of it and blows his whistle.

# 48' Jose Fonte (Portugal) is penalised for a foul. Mark Geiger had a clear view and blows his whistle.

# 47' Joao Moutinho (Portugal) quickly takes the corner kick with a short pass.

# 47' CHANCE! Goncalo Guedes (Portugal) looks to break free, but an opposing player clears the ball away. The ball is out of play. Portugal will have a chance to score from a corner.

# 46' Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) makes a run beyond the last defender, but he's offside.

# The second half has just started.

# The first half of today's match has just finished. Join us for the second half!

# 45+3' What an opportunity! Younes Belhanda (Morocco) leaps high to meet a beautiful cross into the box from the free kick, and he plants a header from near the penalty spot which goes a whisker wide of the left post.

# 45+2' It looks like Raphael Guerreiro (Portugal) saw red with that tackle. Mark Geiger won't tolerate such behaviour on the pitch and blows for a foul. A free kick has been awarded to Morocco.

#  We will have 3 min. of added time.

# 45' Younes Belhanda (Morocco) seems to have picked up a minor injury, but it looks like he will be able to continue playing.

# 44' Younes Belhanda (Morocco) tries to slide the ball through to a teammate but it's well blocked by a defender.

# 40' Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) is booked after bringing down an opponent. Mark Geiger had an easy-decision to make.

# 40' Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) does well to dispossess the attacker with a slide tackle, but the referee blows his whistle for a foul.

# 39' CHANCE! Goncalo Guedes (Portugal) receives a precise pass from Cristiano Ronaldo and is given time inside the box to send a promising strike towards the middle of the goal. Munir guesses his intention and denies him with a fine save.

# 39' Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco) brings his opponent down with a tackle and Mark Geiger blows his whistle for a foul.

# 37' Cedric Soares (Portugal) was too forceful with his tackle and Mark Geiger interrupted the game to signal a free kick.

# 35' One of the Portugal players was holding his opponent and the referee doesn't hesitate to blow his whistle.

# 34' Wasted opportunity! Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco) picked up a pass and had lots of options, but instead decided to shoot from distance and it went high over the bar.

# 33' Joao Moutinho (Portugal) swings in the corner kick, but one of the defenders leaps highest to head the ball away.

# 32' Joao Mario (Portugal) produces a dangerous lofted cross into the box which is intercepted. The referee and one of his assistants signal for a corner kick to Portugal.

# 31' The defensive wall stood firm and easily blocked the powerfully hit free kick from Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) on the edge of the box.

# 30' The free kick will be taken by Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).

# 30' Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) commits a rough challenge and Mark Geiger blows his whistle for an infringement. Portugal have a free kick from a promising distance.

# 30' Joao Mario (Portugal) pulls the shirt of his opponent and the referee stops play for a foul.

# 27' Portugal were demanding for a VAR review, but referee denies it!

# 25' Mehdi Benatia (Morocco) commits a rough challenge and Mark Geiger blows his whistle for a foul.

# 23' Joao Mario (Portugal) gives away a foul for a clumsy challenge. Referee Mark Geiger saw the whole situation.

# 23' SAVE! Rui Patricio makes a save to deny the long-range effort from Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) towards the middle of the goal.

# 21' Khalid Boutaib (Morocco) finds himself in an offside position and the referee stops play after the linesman raises his flag

# 20' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) fails to send a pass into the box as his effort is cut out. The referee blows his whistle, Morocco are awarded a corner kick.

# 19' Moubarak Boussoufa (Morocco) commits a foul and Mark Geiger immediately signals a free kick.

# Here is Cristiano Ronaldo's goal!

# 17' Nordin Amrabat (Morocco) clearly holds his opponent to prevent him from getting the ball and the referee immediately stops play.

# 15' Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) makes a slide tackle, but referee Mark Geiger blows for a foul.

# 14' CHANCE! Manuel da Costa (Morocco) missed a great opportunity! He finds himself some space near the penalty spot and plants a header goalwards which lacks both power and accuracy. The ball goes well wide of the right post!

# 14' Younes Belhanda (Morocco) takes the corner kick but the ball only finds the head of an opponent.

# 11' Nordin Amrabat (Morocco) tries to send a pass but it's blocked. The ball is out of play. A goal-scoring opportunity from a corner for Morocco.

# 10' Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) receives a precise pass inside the box and takes a shot that flies just wide of the left post.

# 4' GOAL! Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) scores from quite a difficult position as he leaps high to connect with a cross and powers his header into the roof of the net. Excellent finish.

# 4' Cedric Soares (Portugal) gets to the rebound just outside the box, but his attempt is blocked by one of the defending players. The linesman makes the right call and Portugal will have a corner.

# 1' The first half has started.

Portugal Playing XI: Rui Patrício, Cédric, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro, Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Moutinho, João Mário, Cristiano Ronaldo, Guedes.

Morocco Playing XI: El Kajoui, Dirar, Benatia, Da Costa, Hakimi, Belhanda, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Ziyech, Boutaïb, Harit.

Welcome to News Nation live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2018! In the first match of the day, high flying Portugal face bottom-placed Morocco in the Group B clash of the World Cup. 

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal FIFA World Cup 2018 Morocco Portugal vs Morocco