Second quickest semi final goal and the third fastest goal by a substitute in the history of the FIFA World Cup from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani respectively sends France into consecutive final for the first time in their history.
France reach yet another FIFA World Cup final following a 2-0 victory over the Atlas Lions of Morocco, who for the first two times since the appointment of their history making coach, Walid Regragui conceded goals from an opposing player.
After a complicated build up to the game due to the North Africans’ ability to defy the odds, it was predicted that only an early goal will help Didier Deschamps’ side see off their rival.
And fortunately, they got off to perfect start as Theo Hernandez fired them into the lead inside the first five minutes with an astonishing finish after Kylian Mbappé was denied by two crucial blocks by the Moroccan defence.
The move started with a Raphael Varane’s pass splitting open the Morocco defence and Antoine Griezmann teed up Mbappé, who fired twice at goal but sees his tries blocked and the ball fell kindly to Hernandez, who fizzled home to put France 1-0 up.
That goal was the first ever Morocco have conceded from an opposing player since the appointment of Walid Regragui in August, bringing an end to a nine game without a player from the other team puting the ball in the back of their net.
Azzedine Ounahi almost responds for Morocco but for a brilliant save from Hugo Lloris, who was making his 19th appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals, making him equal Germany’s Manuel Neuer as the Goalkeepers with most appearances in the competition’s history.
Moments after Hakim Ziyech made a mess of a chance, France were presented a glorious opportunity to double their lead but Olivier Giroud saw his strike came off the woodwork with Yassine Bonou beaten, all inside the opening 20 minutes.
France, who had never lost in 26 FIFA World Cup games when leading at the break took the one goal advantage into the half time break.
They would in the end extend the remarkable run to 27 games as the game was finally put to bed in the 79th minute, when Randal Kolo Muani scores his first international goal just 44 seconds after coming off the bench to replace Ousmane Dembele.
The goal is the third fastest by a substitute in the history of the FIFA World Cup, only behind Ebbe Sand for Denmark against Nigeria in 1998 and Richard Morales for Uruguay against Senegal in 2002.
France held on to seal a 2-0 win in a game Morocco were never completely blown away and in the process, reaches back to back FIFA World Cup finals, becoming only the sixth nation to do so.
They will meet Argentina in the final while Morocco meets Croatia in the third place match.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
