Miraculous Morocco: Elation in Montreal as Moroccans shock Portugal 1-0 at World Cup

The Moroccan dream continued at the World Cup Saturday with yet another shock victory – this time against Portugal.

And Montreal’s strong Moroccan community was right there with their Atlas Lions, celebrating the first African nation to reach the semifinal of the world’s biggest tournament.

In Montreal’s Little Maghreb community, they cheered, jumped and waved the Moroccan flag at the final whistle of a 1-0 victory over the Portuguese.

It was tense for them in the dying moments, with Portugal pressing for the equalizer. But Morocco’s improbable run was not to be stopped.

Montreal-born goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made three saves for yet another clean sheet – his fourth in the competition.

It came just a few days after they upset Spain in penalties in the round of 16.

#WATCH Montrealers celebrate Morocco's 42nd-minute goal to take a 1-0 lead over Portugal in the #WorldCup quarterfinal.

CityNews and OMNI News are at MALAK lounge in Little Maghreb.

Video: OMNI News/Farah Mustaphahttps://t.co/wdvhVuJe27 pic.twitter.com/q6BqNvIzey

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) December 10, 2022

The scene in Little Maghreb just before kickoff, as Moroccan Montrealers hope for another World Cup upset – this time against Portugal.#READ: https://t.co/wdvhVuJe27 pic.twitter.com/Ij0hE7aiG9

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) December 10, 2022

An hour earlier at MALAK resto lounge on Boulevard Pie-IX, fans jumped for joy when Youssef En-Nesyri jumped high and headed the ball into the back of the net in the 42nd minute.

It turned out to be the game’s only goal.

Morocco will now face either England or France in the World Cup semifinal.

Moroccan Montrealers celebrate their side’s 42nd-minute goal to take a 1-0 lead over Portugal in the World Cup quarterfinal on Dec. 10, 2022. (Credit: OMNI News/Farah Mustapha)

Montrealers watch the Morocco-Portugal World Cup quarterfinal at MALAK lounge in Little Maghreb on Dec. 10, 2022. (Credit: OMNI News/Farah Mustapha)

Montrealers watch the Morocco-Portugal World Cup quarterfinal at MALAK lounge in Little Maghreb on Dec. 10, 2022. (Credit: OMNI News/Farah Mustapha)

There are about 37,000 people of Moroccan descent living in Montreal, according to Statistics Canada. Many of them live in Little Maghreb, where there are immigrants from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

—With files from The Associated Press