Morocco overcomes slow start for big win The 7-3 win for Morocco saw a sluggish start for the Moroccans turn into a huge finish. The US scored first and seemed to be headed for a dominating if not easy win when they scored the games’ first two goals and were playing tremendous defense but Morocco quickly recovered and started the comeback near the end of the 1st period, completed the comeback in the second, and began piling on in the final period. Morocco will play again on Saturday against fellow consolation bracket winner, the UAE. The USA will play their final match of the week on Saturday against Japan, which will be a rematch of the thumping group stage match they played on Thursday. The Americans did not show any ill effects from losing a tight match against Japan on Friday and began the opening period by getting two quick goals, one from Morales and one from Garcia, and the Red, White, and Blue used lock down defense to solidify their great opening frame play, however the Lions of the Atlas used an opportunistic header from Boulakouaba to get one late goal and the game went into the first break with the US up 2-1. The luck and momentum shifted almost from the opening whistle of the middle frame, as the USA could not capitalize on direct kicks and the shots that looked to be going in, bounced over or wide of the net, then the Stars and Stripes scored an own goal, which tied the game at 2. The Moroccan turnaround was far from complete as they scored another two goals in the middle frame to take their own two goal lead, matching a game high, once owned by the Yanks. Garcia did not want to see his compatriots go down silently and he scored his second goal of the match, to get back to within one goal, at 3-4, which is how the score would sit going into the last period. Morocco took two minutes in the final frame to restore their two goal lead when El Hadaoui stuck a direct kick from near halfway line that skirted just past the American keeper. The American offense seemed to falter in the opening minutes of the final period, as they were unable to mount any substantial attacks. The early goal was all that the Moroccan National Selection had to show for their excellent efforts, on both ends of the pitch, in the deciding frame. In the final minutes, that was no longer true, as El Hamidy hit home a bouncing ball that gave his side the 6-3 lead. Another late goal more than sealed the win for the Lions of the Atlas and the game ended with a score 7-3 for Morocco. Goals: 0-1: Morales, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Garcia, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Boulakouaba, min. 0 (1); 2-2: Balsano (o.g.), min. 10 (2); 3-2: Boulakouaba, min. 6 (2); 4-2: El Karkouri, min. 4 (2); 4-3: Garcia, min. 0 (2); 5-3: El Hadaoui, min. 10 (3); 6-3: El Hamidy, min. 3 (3); 7-3: Nassim, min. 0 (3). SAMSUNG BEACH SOCCER INTERCONTINENTAL CUP DUBAI 2014 Results Today: Friday 07.11.14 16:15 - Japan 3-4 UAE (Playoff for 5th Place) 17:30 – Morocco 7-3 USA (Playoff for 5th Place) 18:45 – Russia vs. Iran (Semi-final) 20:00 - Portugal vs. Brazil (Semi-final) Upcoming Matches: Saturday 08.11.14 16:15 – Japan vs. USA (7th Place Match) 17:30 – UAE vs. Morocco (5th Place Match) 18:45 – 3rd Place Match 20:00 – Final
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:39:36 +0000
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