Wednesday January 23, 2013 Group Stage: Group A Finished Moses Mabhida Stadium

Morocco 1 - 1 Cape Verde Islands

  • El Arabi 78’
  • Platini 35’

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  1. African Cup of Nations - Morocco held by Cape Verde

    African Cup of Nations - Morocco held by Cape Verde

    Youssef El Arabi spared Morocco's blushes from the bench in a 1-1 draw with Cape Verde Islands in Group A. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Morocco
    • Cape Verde Islands
    • 90+5' It's over! Cape Verde hold Morocco in a draw which will please Angola more than either of the two sides here. Thanks for joining me - report to follow on the website and you can follow us on Twitter - @eurosportcom_EN and @liamhappe
    • 90+4' Through ball for El Arabi is overhit and we look set to finish all square here barring a very dramatic late twist...
    • 90+3' Offside now against Heldon as the sub looks to spearhead any chance CV get to re-take the lead at the death.
    • 90+2' Ball cleared long by Cape Verde where Heldon almost gets through on goal but for Lamyaghri racing out of his box to get the danger away.
    • 90+1' Morocco pushing for a chance to snatch this but CV defending well.
    • 90' Five minutes added on. Will we get a late winner.
    • 89' Final sub of the game as Tavares makes way for Guy Ramos.
    • 88' Verde send another long free-kick forward, but it's handily dealt with.
    • 86' Belghazouani wins a corner off Rony as Morocco look for a winner.
    • 85' A good move forward down the right for Verde, though, which ends when moved inside to Tony Varela with El Ahmadi back to cover.
    • 84' It looks like CV will indeed be happy with a draw after being pegged back in a game they've given everything to.
    • 83' Free header for El Arabi from the corner... but he heads it into the ground and wide!
    • 82' Morocco are flowing now and win a corner off some good wide play.
    • 80' Neves is unable to get onto a free-kick for CV from the right wing. Will they settle for the draw here or try again to attack as they had in the first half?
    • 79' Cape Verde have been working so hard to hold on here, but gifted their opponents too much space and Morocco took full advantage.
    • 78' GOAL MOROCCO! They're back on level terms as El Arabi hammers home a cut-back from the right by Barrada. 1-1!
    • 77' Heldon almost wins a free-kick off Benatia, but the flag had already gone up.
    • 75' Man-of-the-match Ryan Mendes is withdrawn in Verde's second switch for Ramos Heldon.
    • 74' Barrada sends a ball over the top but it's seen out by CV for a goal kick.
    • 73' Corner is cleared before El Hamaoudi puts another cross from the left over the bar.
    • 72' Great sliding block by Varela to stop El Arabi from shooting from inside the box. Corner for Morocco.
    • 71' Goalscorer Platini leaves the action in CV's first change. Roni is the man coming on.
    • 70' El Arabi is the next man booked for a clumsy forearm challenge on Varela.
    • 69' El Hamdaoui bursts down the left and chips in a cross looking for El Arabi, but Vozinha claims it... just.
    • 68' Barrada takes... and it's a decent curling effort but one which doesn't dip under the crossbar in time. Goal kick.
    • 67' The free-kick is 25 yards from goal and just left of centre. Three Morocco players stand over it.
    • 66' The game is breaking down a bit now. Neves sees yellow for a crunching slide in on El Arabi.
    • 65' Belhanda is almost immediately replaced by Kamel Chafni.
    • 63' Barranda is also booked for dissent, it seems.
    • 62' Belhanda picks up a yellow for a dangerous challenge, and that will rule him out of the final group stage clash against South Africa.
    • 60' Early cross by Mendes from the right looks for Tavares, but with him in the area is Benatia, who is strong to win the challenge and head clear.
    • 58' That comes to nothing and Tony Varela - the midfielder, not CB Fernando Varela - needs treatment after landing hard from an aerial challenge.
    • 57' Belghazouani sparks the breakaway from the failed delivery on the left, but settles for an attacking throw.
    • 56' CV corner is taken short before the eventual cross is headed off-target by Tavares. In fact, El Adoua got the last touch while marking the forward and it's another flag kick from the other side.
    • 55' Free-kick is taken on the left wing and Varela heads wide.
    • 54' Liverpool man Assaidi has not been able to make much of an impact in this game and he is withdrawn for Chahir Belghazouani.
    • 53' Silly shove by the booked Achchakir on Babanco. Another free-kick and he's walking a fine line with a yellow to his name already.
    • 52' Set piece for CV and the defenders are up for it. They almost combine for 2-0 off the second ball, too, with Varela crossing for Neves to head off-target.
    • 51' Offside against Morocco, their fourth to Verde's zero.
    • 50' He's making an early impression, closing down goalkeeper Vozinha and conceding a free-kick for going too far. He's letting CV know he's about, though.
    • 48' Morocco made a change at the break, too, with Youssef El-Arabi coming on for Amrabat to try and boost their attacking force.
    • 47' Morocco are immediately building approaches towards the CV goal as they look to take the game by the scuff of the neck, something they couldn't manage earlier.
    • 46' We are back underway, with Cape Verde a goal to the good.
    • 45+2' And though Morocco end the half on top, it's a rare spell of dominance for them and they enter the break behind 1-0 to the impressive Cape Verde Islands!
    • 45+1' Two minutes added onto the end of the half.
    • 45' Now a free-kick for Morocco 25 yards out, but the delivery in search of a head is also dealt with.
    • 44' ...and while it takes two attempts, CV get it clear.
    • 43' Another corner coming up for Morocco...
    • 42' Morocco need a massive tactical overhaul in this game. They've played right into Cape Verde's hands so far.
    • 41' Mendes wriggles his way through the defenders and clips a half-chance towards goal, but it's not troubling Lamyaghri.
    • 40' Great forage down the right by Barranda but his low cross is well blocked and cleared.
    • 38' Morocco push forward and win a corner, but it comes to nothing.
    • 36' Mendes leads with his arms in an aerial challenge and combined with a number of prior transgressions, he enters the ref's book.
    • 35' GOAL CAPE VERDE! Platini finds the target this time! Good through ball forward and he does well to lift it over the outrushing Lamyaghri and in! 0-1!
    • 34' Platini drives from 25 yards... Lamyaghri parries!
    • 33' Mendes cuts inside from the left on a good run, but his attempt to slip Gege through on the right is well cut out.
    • 31' Platini makes it three needless free-kicks conceded as Barrada struggles to prevent a corner.
    • 30' Again CV try too hard to keep the pressure on, this time Tavares gives away a free-kick in Morocco's half.
    • 29' Morocco soon find themselves under more pressure as this game is not going the way they imagined.
    • 28' Mendes holds back Achchakir while trying to keep an attack alive and this time Morocco have the set piece.
    • 26' Gege has a speculative dig at goal on the overlap but it's a tame low drive which Lamyaghri picks up without fuss.
    • 25' El Ahmadi is put through at the end of Morocco's best passing flow yet but the flag goes up. Better, though.
    • 24' Amrabat comes forward to end the defensive spell for Morocco and wins a corner off Varela.
    • 23' Platini latches onto the ensuing attacking throw and scuffs a great opportunity from 15 yards to get a shot on target.
    • 22' Mendes with the shot as two team-mates clear out of the way... wicked low drive kept out by Lamyaghri!
    • 21' Yet another free-kick for CV and it's the closest one yet. Not only that, but Achchakir sees yellow for the foul on Mendes.
    • 20' Morocco clear and counter, but fall foul of the offside flag.
    • 19' Free-kick number 10 for Cape Verde, this one a little right of centre and 35 yards out.
    • 18' Tavares soon gets another chance but completely wastes it from the left-hand side of the area, scuffing it wide.
    • 17' This one's taken low and clips off the wall and into the path of Tavares, whose effort is easily held by Lamyaghri.
    • 16' Another foul from Morocco, this time by Benatia against Platini. That's nine in just 16 minutes.
    • 15' Babanco's cross dips towards goal, and Lamyaghri punches clear.
    • 14' Achchakir gives away another set-piece, and this one is out on the right a little closer to goal. Everyone congregates on the edge of the area.
    • 13' It's eventually pumped forward by Babanco but Platini gives away a free-kick trying to keep the attack alive.
    • 12' Bit of a delay thanks to handbags in the box.
    • 11' Tavares is caught by Benatia and another free-kick from the halfway line for CV which they'll take long.
    • 10' Quiet start to the game all in all but a few signs of intent from each side.
    • 9' Great challenge by Varela to dispossess Barrada as Morocco finally begin to put their opponents on the back foot.
    • 8' Achchakir strides forward and tries his luck from 35 yards... and his drive has to be pushed away by Vozinha.
    • 7' Mendes continues his bright start for Verde on the wing but a mis-placed pass ends another attack.
    • 5' Another CV advance however ends in nothing but a goal kick.
    • 4' The underdogs are doing a good job of beginning at a brisk tempo, which does not sit well with Morocco's more relaxed and methodical approach.
    • 3' Cape Verde are unable to create a chance off the corner, nor another deep free-kick sent forward moments later.
    • 2' CV pump an early free-kick into the Morocco box, where Lamyaghri has to tip a header over the bar.
    • 1' Morocco kick off the first half.
    • 17:55 Anthems played, final warm-ups about to conclude and kick-off is moments away. Want to watch it all unfold? It's LIVE and in HD on British Eurosport!
    • 17:50 Teams are out bright and early ahead of kick-off in 10 minutes. Who's your money on? Tweet predictions and messages of support to @liamhappe
    • 17:45 The official for this match is Janny Sikazwe (Zambia).
    • 17:40 Earlier today, also at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the hosts South Africa got the first goals of Group A after two 0-0 draws on match day one. They defeated Angola 2-0 and here's the report in full: African Cup of Nations - Hosts South Africa see off Angola
    • 17:35 MOROCCO: Lamyaghri; Chakir, Benatia, El Adoua, Bergdich; El Ahmadi, Belhanda; Amrabat, Barrada. Assaidi; El Hamdaoui. CAPE VERDE: Vozinha; Gege, F.Varela, Nando, Nivaldo; Babanco, Soares, Platini, T.Varela, Mendes; Tavares.
    • 17:30 Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE African Cup of Nations matchcast as Morocco take on Cape Verde. Team news will follow very shortly!

  • Summary

    • 83' Free header for El Arabi from the corner... but he heads it into the ground and wide!
    • 78' GOAL MOROCCO! They're back on level terms as El Arabi hammers home a cut-back from the right by Barrada. 1-1!
    • 35' GOAL CAPE VERDE! Platini finds the target this time! Good through ball forward and he does well to lift it over the outrushing Lamyaghri and in! 0-1!
    • 34' Platini drives from 25 yards... Lamyaghri parries!
    • 22' Mendes with the shot as two team-mates clear out of the way... wicked low drive kept out by Lamyaghri!
    • 9' Great challenge by Varela to dispossess Barrada as Morocco finally begin to put their opponents on the back foot.
    • 17:35 MOROCCO: Lamyaghri; Chakir, Benatia, El Adoua, Bergdich; El Ahmadi, Belhanda; Amrabat, Barrada. Assaidi; El Hamdaoui. CAPE VERDE: Vozinha; Gege, F.Varela, Nando, Nivaldo; Babanco, Soares, Platini, T.Varela, Mendes; Tavares.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Morocco

    Manager: Rachid Taoussi

  • Cape Verde Islands

    Manager: Lucio Antunes

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.9 -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 5.1 -
      5.7 -
      4.9 -
      4.9 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out65′ 5.3 -
      4.7 -
      Substitution Out45′ 5.8 -
      Yellow Card 5.7 -
      Substitution Out54′ 5.2 -
      Strikers
      4.9 -
      Subs
      Substitution In65′ 5 -
      Substitution In54′ 5 -
      Substitution In45′ Goal Yellow Card 7.7 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.1 -
      Defenders
      6.9 -
      7.8 -
      Yellow Card 6.5 -
      7.1 -
      Midfielders
      Goal Substitution Out71′ 7.3 -
      6.8 -
      7 -
      7.1 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out90′ 5.9 -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out75′ 8.1 -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 5 -
      Substitution In71′ 7.5 -
      Substitution In75′ 7.5 -

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. I LOVE THIS GROUP. Mathematically, anyone can qualify,­ anyone can go home. Last matches are a must-see :-D

    From Nnamezie, on Wed 23 Jan 21:17

  2. 1-1 means Cape Verde can go through if they beat Angola­ and Morocco will have to beat south Africa to go­ through. Interesting battles ahead...

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 23 Jan 19:52

  3. Vamos Cabo Verde!

    From Richard P, on Wed 23 Jan 19:52

  4. It seems Cape Verde Islands are good zoo keepers. They­ surely know how to tame LIONS. First the indomitable­ lions of Cameroun and now atlas lions of Morocco!

    From AlloyU, on Wed 23 Jan 18:59

  5. Anyone watching the game? How's Assaidi palying?

    From Eddie L, on Wed 23 Jan 18:54

  6. Africa Cup is played every other year. It used to be­ played in even-numbered years, but starting this year­ it was moved on odd-numbered years, so that the­ tournament is not played in the same year with the­ World Cup and Euro Cup.

    From Eddie L, on Wed 23 Jan 18:53

  7. Mess with the sharks ... You will feel the bite.­ Auch... Morroco just been biten... FORCA CABO VERDE.­ Frantz, Praia, CV

    From Frantz, on Wed 23 Jan 18:51

  8. Don't you people think its just a bit petty to give­ the entire Moroccan team 1/10 just after the game's­ start?

    From Adam Beaumont, on Wed 23 Jan 18:05

  9. el hamdaoui to score .

    From SI mo, on Wed 23 Jan 17:37

  10. go morocco go...

    From SI mo, on Wed 23 Jan 17:35

  11. come on morocco cape verde islands will lose­ toinght join game with me

    From A REECE, on Wed 23 Jan 17:17

  12. Morocco by force not to be trifled

    From Belhaj, on Wed 23 Jan 17:11

  13. Morocco will win this !!!!!!!!

    From Samia, on Wed 23 Jan 14:41

  14. Go Cape Verde! You are in land of Cape(Town), feel at­ home and get at least a draw!

    From Nnamezie, on Tue 22 Jan 22:05

  15. C A B O V E R D E !

    From Nnamezie, on Tue 22 Jan 22:03
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