In their final group stage match of the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup, Morocco fell 4-1 to Portugal at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday.
Despite the defeat, Morocco secured a place in the Round of 16, where they will face France in their knockout stage opener.
The match was a closely contested affair, but Portugal ultimately proved too much for Morocco to handle. The reigning European and World champions wasted no time establishing their control over the game.
Portugal opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, with Erik finding the back of the net after an assist from Bruno Coelho. Morocco, caught off guard by the early strike, struggled to regain momentum as Portugal continued to press forward.
Bruno Coelho then extended Portugal’s lead with a goal in the 19th minute, making it 2-0 just before halftime. His sharp playmaking and clinical finishing were a constant threat throughout the game.
Shortly after the break, Coelho struck again, completing his brace in the 22nd minute of the second half to give Portugal a commanding 3-0 lead.
However, Morocco refused to back down. Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of the second half when Soufiane El Mesrar finally broke through Portugal’s defense to score Morocco’s lone goal of the game. Despite the late surge, it wasn’t enough to stage a full comeback.
In the 39th minute, Portugal cemented their win with a fourth goal from Zicky Té.
Although Morocco suffered their first defeat of the tournament, their earlier victories in the group stage were enough to guarantee them a spot in the Round of 16. They will now prepare to face France in what promises to be another intense battle.