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Yassine Bounou saved from Cristiano Ronaldo and Morocco manager Walid Redragui began to cry.
Portugal were pouring forward and the incessant din was scrambling minds but his magnificent defence were resisting the pressure and the clock was ticking down. ‘I think it is the first time I cried in a match,’ said Redragui. ‘I tried to control my emotions but sometimes it is too much.
‘I was afraid of Ronaldo. You know he can score out of nothing and is one of the best players in the world, but Yassine is a great goalkeeper. The emotions come out and it is impossible for Moroccans to control them.’
Morocco exploded in celebration after beating Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup quarter-final
Manager Walid Regragui was thrown aloft after masterminding their run into the semi-finals
The African side are the first ever from the continent to reach the last four of a World Cup
Portugal – one of the favourites to lift the trophy – were left stunned by Morocco’s resilience
Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half header ended up the decisive moment – the only goal of the game
The Sevilla star wheels away during celebrations as the African nation took a shock lead
He was not the only one with a tear in the eye or a lump in the throat as the final minutes played out inside the Al Thumama Stadium, packed mostly with those supporting the last team at the World Cup from the continent of Africa and adopted by the host nation and seemingly the entire Arab world.
They had scored towards the end of the first half when Youssef En-Nesyri punished a mistake by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who came for the cross and never made it.
But they had been under pressure for the entire second half. Fernando Santos made attacking changes. On went Ronaldo and Rafael Leao. Off went Morocco captain Romain Saiss on a stretcher. Off went substitute Walid Cheddira for a second yellow card.
Up went the decibels and up went the barricades. Sevilla goalkeeper Bounou, known as Bono, was immense, producing saves and pulling crosses out of the air. So too those in front of him, no-one more so than Jawad el Yamiq.
When Pepe wasted the final chance of the game, heading wide at the back post from a cross by Leao, El Yamiq planted a kiss on the top of the veteran defender’s head.
Portugal were out of steam. Out of ideas. There was no way past a defence shaping up to be impenetrable as the Atlas Mountains.
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Here, in the second half, they massed to defend in numbers and they did it heroically, and the final whistle sparked wild scenes of celebration in the stadium.
They have become the first African team to reach the last four and they have done it the hard way, with games against Belgium, Croatia, Canada, Spain and now Portugal.
‘Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming,’ said Bono. ‘It’s hard to describe the joy. Those moments are great but we are here to change the mentality, to get rid of the inferiority complex. The generation coming after us will know Moroccan players can create miracles.’
Veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, began on the bench once again, with Goncalo Ramos preferred
Sevilla striker En-Nesyri then climbed highest to nod a high cross past goalkeeper Diogo Costa
Bruno Fernandes dived to try and win a penalty as he burst into the penalty area (pictured)
The Manchester United star then furiously confronted referee Facundo Tello at half-time
The only goal they have conceded in Qatar was an own goal scored by Nayef Aguerd, the West Ham defender, in the win against Canada. How they deserved to bask in their glory.
As they did, Ronaldo made a swift exit, barely breaking his stride to exchange a handshake with boss Santos on his way down the tunnel. It wasn’t meant to end this way for him or for Portugal.
They spiralled into an undignified conspiracy theory about the Argentinian referee. Both Pepe and Bruno Fernandes complaining about the allocation of an Argentine referee for this game.
Although Facundo Tello was not responsible for their extreme lack of creativity up front, the late miss by Pepe or Costa’s misjudgment that gave Morocco the lead.
Ronaldo was brought on shortly into the second half but was unable to make the difference
The former Manchester United star forward stormed off down the tunnel at the final whistle
Assedine Ounahi carried the ball forward through midfield, evading tackles, playing a one-two with Sofiane Boufal and finding Yahya Attiat-Allah, wide on the left.
His cross was high and Costa abandoned his goal in an attempt to command his area but En-Nesyri was up high and up early. The Sevilla centre forward sprang across the ‘keeper and Ruben Dias to head the ball into an open goal.
En-Nesryi carried a threat when Morocco went forward or from the expert set-piece delivery of Hakim Ziyech, and they proved more adventurous and fluent in attack than against Spain, in the previous round.
Portugal’s first half chances fell mostly to Joao Felix. There was a diving header saved by Bono and a couple of efforts flashed over from the fringes of the penalty area.
Fernandes hit the bar with a mishit cross from the right, which caught Bono out, before the Portuguese descended into a pathetic sequence of tumbling and play-acting, at the end of the first half.
The entire Morocco playing and coaching squad congregated in front of their superb fans
Supporters in Doha, Qatar, revelled in the hugely dramatic victory on Saturday evening
Otavio started it, falling down in the penalty area and then overreacting when Achraf Hakimi came over for a word. Fernandes crumpled to the ground as he chased a ball into the box with Hakimi in pursuit.
There was no intervention from the VAR and Portugal’s players surrounded the referee as they came off at half-time.
Perhaps a sign of their desperation and their fear that this was slipping beyond their control. The big chance, probably Ronaldo’s final chance, gone.
It is Morocco who go into a semi-final on Wednesday, although they will be without Chedirra, who is suspended, Aguerd injured, and could be without captain Saiss.
Noussair Mazrouai, of Bayern Munich, missed this game through illness, but they can rely on their goalkeeper and their fabulous defence, and support from well beyond their borders.
Missed any of the action? Catch up with Sportsmail’s live blog for the sensational World Cup quarter-final clash between Morocco and Portugal, with coverage from MAX MATHEWS.
