El Kaabi's Spectacular Strike Wraps Up Morocco's Victory Over the Coelacanths in Afcon Opener.
The Morocco overcame a jittery start to overcome their island opponents in the tournament's opening game on the weekend, thanks to the Real Madrid attacker and super-sub El Kaabi in the latter period.
This constituted a hardly emphatic showing, however, from the highly fancied hosts, who are ranked 97 places above the tiny Indian Ocean nation in the world rankings and had to grind out for the points in rainy conditions at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
Tense Beginning and Spurned Chances
Morocco missed an first-half spot-kick and were locked at 0-0 at half-time even with controlling the ball, eventually opening the scoring in the 11th minute of the second half.
The goal arrived after Noussair Mazraoui did well to prevent the ball from going out before laying it square for Brahim Díaz to calmly pass home.
“The opening game is always difficult but we delivered in the second half,” said manager Walid Regragui.
The Substitute's Piece of Magic
Any lingering nerves was then calmed by a moment of sheer individual brilliance from substitute El Kaabi. Only 10 minutes following his introduction, the striker met a cross with a acrobatic bicycle kick in the 74th minute, making it two and ensuring the result.
Before that, the hosts could have been ahead in the 11th minute after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's penalty was saved by keeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Defiant Stand and Second-Half Chance
Comoros comfortably held Morocco for long periods until the hosts' greater quality eventually told.
Shot-stopper Yannick Pandor made a number of other good stops to limit the scoreline as the match wore on, although his team did have a clear opportunity for an equaliser shortly following the first goal, with Saïd firing straight at keeper Yassine Bounou.
Injury Worry for Hosts
The victory was somewhat marred by an apparent injury to Morocco's captain, Saïss, who limped off after the first half apparently in some distress.
The centre-back had only made his comeback to the national side last month after a year’s absence caused by ankle surgery.
The win extends the team's record-breaking run of consecutive victories to nineteen, beating the previous record of 15 set by Spain from 2008 and 2009.
