Portugal vs Morocco LIVE: World Cup 2022 result, final score and reaction from quarter-final – Morocco seal historic win to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo will never win the World Cup but an African team just might. A tournament that began with a historic feat by the only man to score in five World Cups now has another first and may yet end with a still greater achievement. Morocco have become Africa’s maiden semi-finalists and Walid Regragui, the manager who encouraged his country to dream, has given them reason to believe the greatest World Cup shock of all is possible.

Portugal join Spain among their victims. Like Belgium and Croatia before them, they were blunted by Moroccan obduracy, with the Atlas Lions’ fourth clean sheet the most remarkable: not because Ronaldo, the scorer of 819 career goals, came off the bench but because they ended with only Achraf Hakimi of their first-choice back four.

Resistance was allied with a goal that was celebrated far beyond Casablanca or Marrakesh. Morocco were willed on and whistled on, in effect the home side, representing the region of the Middle East as well as their own continent. As they succeeded where Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 could not and took African football to a new frontier, it was thanks to a centre-forward with no goals in La Liga this season.

Moroccan fans exploded in joy as their team became the first from any African country to reach a World Cup semi-final, filling the stadium with a deafening roar and unleashing cheering, crying, dancing and singing on the streets back home.

“They made us happy and proud and they proved that they can make it to the final. Why not? We are so proud of this team that is supported by Africa and Arabs” said Siham Motahir, a young woman in Rabat where cafes had filled with fans to watch the game.

In an Abidjan cafe where people were watching the game and drinking beer to celebrate the win, customer Jules Goule said Ivorians were proud of Morocco’s win. “Through Morocco Africa has just shown that it can compete with other continents in football,” he said.

“Waoh, waoh… Morocco! It’s with great joy! Africa is shining! Go Africa!” shouted Agwe Jefferson, 28, a driver in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde.

As the game wound on, Morocco fans screamed “Ole, ole, ole!” in unison, drowning out the handful of Portuguese fans and whistling whenever Portugal took possession of the ball.

As Moroccan player Jawad El Yamiq circled the pitch with a flag draped around his shoulders, one fan stood motionless, looking out over the pitch with his hands over his mouth as if unable to take in the scale of the win.

But in Rabat, joyful fans thronged the streets, people poured towards the downtown square where Morocco’s victories are celebrated.

“The last few minutes felt like hours,” said one fan, Samir Saqri, as he joined a crowd pouring out from the cafe where they had watched the game to head downtown.

“Morocco is showing that African teams can compete at a high level,” he added.

Morocco’s win over Portugal has re-written World Cup quarter-final history.

Cameroon were beaten by England after extra time in 1990.

Senegal reached the same point in their defeat to Turkey in 2002.

Ghana were denied by Uruguay on penalties in 2010

Sofiane Boufal celebrating reaching the World Cup semi-finals with his mum at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live following the final whistle and said:

“It’s really unbelievable, I’m so proud. It’s like a dream – unbelievable we’re in the semi-final.

“We deserve this, 1000%. How we fight, how we play, with our heart for our country for the people – it’s unbelievable. Our spirit, we have injuries, three defenders came in and how they defend, big respect.

“Respect everyone, the coach, the team, the staff. It was like we played at home, thank you for all the people.”

Morocco have made history by becoming the first ever African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. They executed a spectacular gameplan to get past Portugal in the quarter-finals and now face a wait to see who they will face in the final four.

Their opponents will either be France or England. Build-up for the fourth and final quarter-final is ongoing and the team news is due out soon.

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Africa has its World Cup semi-finalists, and the tournament has its new heroes. Morocco have broken through thanks to Youssef En-Nesyri’s historic leap, but this was a victory delivered by the efforts of a sensational team. They have already conquered a part of of Europe, in knocking out Belgium, Spain and now Portugal. One of France or England will wait in the semi-final and on this evidence, neither will find the task of breaking down Morocco’s red wall any easier.

It is an improbable and astonishing achievement. Even at the first World Cup in history to be held in an Arab country, the idea of a team from the region leading a charge towards the latter stages of the tournament was barely considered. Few who endured Morocco’s goalless draw with Croatia could have possibly imagined that they were watching two semi-finalists.

The two nations punching well above their weight share plenty in common. Morocco’s squad do not have the same level of experience as Croatia but they have made up for it in their commitment and discipline. Backed by the whistles of jeers of the Morocco support, Walid Regragui’s side shuttled from side to side, grinding Portugal’s collection of star forwards down into a frustrated, panicked pack of individuals. Portugal would have known what to expect but the reality of what it requires to breach Morocco’s defence hits much harder when faced with the cauldron of red noise that Qatar has become.

The celebration scenes are fantastic from Morocco. Head coach Walid Regragui has been hoisted into the air. The Moroccan flags are out, there are tears of joy.

The crowd are going wild too, they know they’ve just witnessed something special.

The 37-year-old immediately returned straight to the dressing room after the Selecao lost 1-0 to the Atlas Lions in the quarter-final tie.

Ronaldo, left in tears, was immediately consoled and escorted by a Portuguese FA member of staff.

It is likely the legendary forward’s last appearance in the competition, where he was left on the bench in the last two matches by Fernando Santos.