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    Morocco overcomes goalkeeper's 'disappearance' to stun Belgium

    Bounou's mysterious disappearance before kick-off can't stop Morocco
    Nov 27, 2022
    Morocco
    PHOTO: AP

    DOHA, Qatar — Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou mysteriously disappeared before kickoff of his team's shocking 2-0 World Cup win over Belgium on Sunday.

    Bounou lined up with the Morocco team for the national anthems then went to speak to coach Walid Regragui, who embraced him and turned to speak to his reserve keeper. Munir El Kajoui then ran onto the field in time to be included in the pre-match team photo and didn't allow a goal as Morocco beat second-ranked Belgium.

    [READ: Argentina refuses to get carried away after win]

    While there was no immediate explanation of Bounou's absence from the Morocco team or match officials at Al Thumama Stadium, Moroccan TV channel 2M said on its official Twitter account that he had felt dizzy right before kickoff and asked to be replaced.

    The 31-year-old Bounou, who was born in Canada, is Morocco's No. 1 goalkeeper and plays for Spanish club Sevilla. He played in Morocco's 0-0 draw with Croatia in the opening round of group games.

    Substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri got one past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by whipping in a free kick from a tight angle at the near post in the 73rd minute for Morocco's first goal. Zakaria Aboukhlal then guided a shot into the roof of the net off a pass from Hakim Ziyech in stoppage time.

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      Belgium, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Brazil, had won its last seven group games at the World Cup. It was Morocco's first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only its third ever.

      Belgium would have become the second team after defending champion France to qualify for the knockout stage if it had beaten the Moroccans.

      Belgium will next play 2018 finalist Croatia in its final group match, while Morocco will face Canada.

      SEE ALSO
      SEE ALSO

      Meanwhile, Keysher Fuller took advantage of a defensive error and scored the only goal of the match to lead his team over Japan 1-0. Both teams now have three points after two matches and a good chance to advance to the round of 16 from Group E.

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      “We’re still alive,” said Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez, a Colombian who also guided Ecuador and Honduras to World Cup berths. “We weren’t dead yesterday, and now we are very much in this. The main thing is we are still alive. No one can forget about us. We can still dream.”

      Fuller scored his goal in the 81st minute after Japan failed to clear the ball. He hit the net from 18 meters (yards), with the shot going in off the fingertips of leaping Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.

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      PHOTO: AP
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