El Kaabi's Breathtaking Goal Caps The Atlas Lions' Triumph Over the Coelacanths in Afcon Opener.
Host nation Morocco shook off a jittery start to beat Comoros in the competition's opening game on Sunday, thanks to the Real Madrid attacker and super-sub Ayoub El Kaabi in the latter period.
This constituted a less than dominant display, however, from the heavily tipped Moroccans, who are ranked 97 places higher than the tiny Indian Ocean nation in the world rankings and had to toil hard for the victory in rainy conditions at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
Tense Start and Spurned Opportunities
The hosts missed an first-half spot-kick and were goalless at half-time even with dominating the ball, eventually opening the scoring in the 11th minute of the second half.
It came when Noussair Mazraoui did well to prevent the ball from going out before slipping it square for Díaz to sidefoot into the net.
“The opening game is always difficult but we improved in the second period,” said manager Walid Regragui.
El Kaabi's Moment of Magic
Any lingering nerves was subsequently eased by a moment of pure genius from Ayoub El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes following his introduction, the striker met a ball into the box with a stunning overhead kick in the 74th minute, doubling and sealing the result.
Before that, the hosts could have been ahead in the 11th minute when a penalty was given for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's effort was kept out by keeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Resistance and Second-Half Chance
The underdogs stoutly defended against Morocco at bay before the Moroccans' superior firepower in the end told.
Shot-stopper Yannick Pandor made a number of other good stops to keep down the scoreline as the game progressed, even though his team did have a clear opportunity for an equaliser shortly following Díaz's goal, with Saïd shooting directly into Morocco goalkeeper Bounou.
Fitness Worry for Hosts
The three points was somewhat marred by an apparent injury to the captain, Saïss, who was forced off after the 18th minute apparently in some distress.
The defender had only made his comeback to the national side recently after a year’s layoff caused by a serious ankle operation.
The win continues the team's record-breaking run of consecutive victories to 19, surpassing the old best of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.
