Belgium are in big danger of not reaching the next round of the FIFA World Cup following a disappointing 2-0 loss to Morocco in their second group game, while Japan blow away a good chance to ease fears of falling out.
Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Keysher Fuller scored nine minutes from the end of normal time to hand Costa Rica the maximum points against a Japan side, who were miles the better side in the match, which was the first kickoff of the day.
Going into the match on the back of a humiliating loss to Spain, who put seven goals past them without a single reply, Costa Rica needed to respond and keep themselves in a position to reach the next round of the competition.
However, they were made to do lots of defending as Japan asked all the questions, enjoyed much of the possession and had more efforts on and off goal but Keylor Navas was always there when required to make a save.
After the first half ended goalless, Hajime Moriyasu would have been the more confident of the managers and after the interval, he made a couple of attacking changes just to find the breakthrough.
However, the goal would not come and when it eventually did in the 81st minute of the match, it fell to Costa Rica as Yeltsin Tajeda picked up a loose ball and feeds Fuller, who curled the ball into the back of the net for the winner.
Three points for Costa Rica as well as Japan, both who can still progress into the next round but will still have to learn what happens in Spain’s meeting with Germany in the second fixture of the group and final kickoff of the day.
Belgium 0-2 Morocco
There was no escape for the Belgian Red Devils as second half goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal condemned them to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Morocco in Doha.
Literally espaced a spolier in their opening game against Canada, it appeared Roberto Martinez’s side have not learned their lessons as Hakim Ziyech whipped in a free-kick from the right, and eluded everyone on its way to the back of the net.
Unfortunately for Morocco and the Chelsea playmaker, the goal was ruled out for offisde. It finished goalless at half time with no side able to find the breakthrough.
Morocco were only denied one time but would end up scoring another free-kick goal later in the game.
Thomas Meunier concedes a clumsy free-kick for a foul on Attiat-Allah and Sabiri stepped up to score the like of Hakim Ziyech’s, canceled out in the first half to give the Atlas Lions the lead.
The second came in the second minute of injury time as Belgium pushed forward for an equaliser. They were caught at see and Ziyech wriggled into the box before releasing Aboukhlal, who fires into the back of the net to put a massive result beyond doubt.
An important win for Morocco, who faces Canada in their final group game and will already be dreaming of a place in the last 16.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
