Monday January 23, 2012 Group Stage: Group C Finished Stade de l'Amitié

Morocco 1 - 2 Tunisia

  • Kharja 86’
  • Korbi 34’
  • Msekni 75’

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  1. African Cup of Nations - Tunisia edge Morocco

    African Cup of Nations - Tunisia edge Morocco

    Tunisia gave North African rivals Morocco a masterclass in the counter attack with a 2-1 Group C win in the African Cup of Nations. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Morocco
    • Tunisia
    • - Phew! Well that was a lot of fun for me (@Reda_Maher), and I hope it was for you too. Sorry about the goal confusion late on - I got it right first time it seems. See you on Wednesday - my colleague @TomEurosport will be Africa Cup of Nations man tomorrow - and have a great night.
    • 90+6 AND THAT IS IT! Tunisia shade it, but only just! 2-1 in the end and Morocco look like they've lost the final!
    • 90+5 Ragued with a dodgy backpass but Mathlouthi clears to touch. He has been excellent tonight. The Tunisian bench can't bear to look!
    • 90+4 Morocco piling it on now! Taarabt to Belhanda, wide to Amrabat, he skins one man, then another, AND BENATIA but he mis-heads it wide!!
    • 90+3 Mathlouthi booked for time wasting.
    • 90+3 INCES OVER FROM KHARJA! Almost a wonder goal from Kharja, tricky feet to make the space and s curling effort that the sprawling Mathlouthi is delighted to see miss!
    • 90+2 Amrabat puts El-Arabi in, back to Tarrabt but his cross is cleared. Men behind the ball now for Tunisia!
    • 90+1 Amrabat on the right can put a cross in but blocked and Tunisia clear.
    • 90+1 FIVE minutes added time!
    • - CORRECTION MK TWO Am now told Kharja did score the goal, not Amrabat. Bald men, we all look the same.
    • 90' Taarabt to cross it in, good ball but Mathlouthi punches clear. Still with Morocco...
    • 89' Tunisia are still kicking off about that goal, it was Khalifa wasting time and Morocco want to take this and have shoved him off the pitch.
    • - CORRECTION - the cross was Kharja, the finish Amrabat, editing error from me. Ta.
    • 89' The corner is half cleared and Amrabat is fouled on the right wing. He's angry with the officials for allowing Chikhaoui to waste some time.
    • 88' Amrabat with a superb cross and El-Arabi attacks so put behind by a defender! Corner.
    • 87' Jemal is booked for kicking off as Morocco tried to get the ball back. They are furious too as El Kaoutari was offside when he met the original cross!
    • 86' GOAL MOROCCO! Kharja taps it in after a super header across the face of goal by El-Kaoutari! Amrabat with the original cross.
    • 85' Nice cross from El-Kaddouri but no-ne attacks it. Another run from El-Kaddouri results in a corner.
    • 84' Kharjia needs treatment after that collision. Morocco come again...
    • 83' Belhanda with a strong challenge and then Benatia rifles into Kharja and somehow escapes a booking.
    • 82' El-Kaddouri flies in on Chermiti and is booked.
    • 81' El-Arabi with a nice low cross from the right but Abdennour hacks it clear. A long ball catches Morocco out again but again Lamyaghri slides out to hook it clear.
    • 80' TUNISIA SUB: Chermiti on for Dhaouadi.
    • 79' Decent corner but it bounces wide of the far post.
    • 78' MOROCCO SUB: El-Arabi on for Chamakh.
    • 77' Taarabt with an effort deflected over for a corner.
    • 76' SECOND GOAL TUNISIA! Msakni with a solo effort, weaving in and out to beat two defenders before drilling a low shot that seemed to take a deflection to leave Lamyaghri flat-footed. Inside the bottom left and that is that, a proper smash and grab. The new Egypt anyone?
    • 75' Ragued puts in a slide tackle on Belhanda and the ref decides it was fair. Correctly in my view. Now a terrible cross from Hadji sails out.
    • 74' Amrabat on the move down the left, the cross is too high and Jemal clears. Dhaouadi beats Hadji to it but Basser-Chretien gets back to challenge. Now Morocco break but Abdennour clears.
    • 73' Heavy, late challenge from Taarabt but the ref doesn't give a free-kick. Odd.
    • 72' Tunisia break but Msaksi can't work space for a shot and it trickles to Lamyaghri.
    • 72' Amrabat wins a corner off Haggui. Their eighth corner so far. Cleared but Belhanda on it, wide to Taarabt who's in loads of space but a rotten cross to the fury of his team-mates. Hot and cold.
    • 71' Morocco with around 60% possession, shots on target are 4-3.
    • 70' Benatia with a heavy tackle. He's already been booked but the ref waves play on.
    • 69' Tunisia counter and Traoui is in, good low drive well saved by Lamyaghri and the loose ball lands to Dhaouadi who inexplicably crosses when the net was gaping and it's over the head of Msakni and away!
    • 68' Amrabat is tripped but he was offside when he started his run.
    • 67' I'm almost crying after that miss - it would have been the goal of the tournament had he just rolled it in. Wah. Feel my pain on Twitter @Reda_Maher. FOLLOW HERE!
    • 66' WHAT A MISS FROM HADJI! Brilliant first touch to kill a high ball and leave Abdennour for dead but the second was a shocker, putting it five yards wide with just the keeper to beat! That was a Bergkamp-esque first touch, and, well, me for the second!!
    • 65' TUNISIA SUB: Ragued on for Chikhaoui.
    • 64 Nice one-touch play from Morocco, including a backheel from Chamakh, but Tunisia intercept - Haggui gives it away though and Chamakh can pick out Hadji but a poor pass.
    • 63' Abdennour is down after he was caught in the build-up to that chance.
    • 62' Hadji races in down the left and the angle is tight but he shoots anyway, blasting over with Korbi sliding in.
    • 61' Lamyaghri has to rush out to sweep up as his defence sit increasingly high up the pitch.
    • 60' Hadji immediately lobs it in to Chamakh who is beaten to it by Mathlouthi, who also takes the player out for good measure.
    • 59' MOROCCO SUB: Hadji is on to partner Chamakh, who was onside by the way as shown by the replay - terrible decision. Boussoufa off.
    • 58' Chamakh is offside. Youssef Hadji is set to come on, warmed up and ready...
    • 57' Welcome to the Nations Cup, Youssef Msakni. He's in real pain after that as the medics come on.
    • 56' Late from Basser-Chretien on Msakni and it's a yellow card.
    • 55' TUNISIA SUB: Msakni on for Allagui.
    • 54' Khalifa chases a long ball, the keeper has gone walkabout but the defenders are back and in the end the keeper forced him wide without diving in and the angle is too tight.
    • 52' Haggui does well to run the ball out under pressure from Boussoufa.
    • 51' Boussoufa to take then. Abdennour again tugging the shirt of Chamakh and the ref has had enough - final warning. Poor set piece by Boussafa into Mathlouthi's arms.
    • 50' Amrabat is sent wide by Basser and his heels are clipped by Dhaouadi. Free-kick on the right wing.
    • 49' Taarabt with another cross that Haggui has to head behind. The QPR man is really causing problems. Mathlouthi gets a good punch on the next corner though.
    • 48' Boussoufa lofts it in for Chamakh, he knocks it back to TAARABT whose shot is palmed behind by Mathlouthi! Immediate impact!
    • 47' Kantari wins a free-kick on the left. Taken short to Kharja, flicked on by Chamakh but Boussoufa fails to get on it. Abdennour bizarrely takes a dive in his own half, no idea what he was doing there!
    • 46' Taarabt immediately on the ball and his cross seems to strike an arm but the ref waves play on!
    • 46' The second half is underway!
    • - MOROCCO SUB: Adel Taarabt of QPR is on for Assaidi. He blows hot and cold, Eric Gerets hoping it's hot tonight.
    • - Well that was arguably the best half of football we've seen so far at these finals, Tunisia leading but Morocco the more threatening. Have your say on this game on Twitter, @Reda_Maher. FOLLOW ME HERE!
    • 45+3 Half-time and Tunisia lead through that freak goal by Korbi.
    • 45+2 Chamakh led with the hand and Haggui, if not the ref, saw it - he has a right go at the Arsenal striker. Mathlouthi needs treatment, claiming he got a whack on the head, but I'm sure he's fine. Yes, he is.
    • 45+1 JUST OVER FROM CHAMAKH! Really brave by both Chamakh and Mathlouthi to fly in for that high cross and it flies over.
    • 45' Amrabat buys a corner off Jemal. Boussoufa to take but flicked off the head of Chamakh and Assaidi is unable to keep it in.
    • 44' Basser-Chretien gets down the right before putting in a super low cross but Abdennour slides in to clear to touch.
    • 43' Chamakh is fouled by Traoui, who gets a final warning. Taken quickly and Belhanda shimmies away from Abdennour before letting rip with a low drive but putting it inches wide!
    • 42' Free-kick deep in Tunisia's half, taken short before a long one is aimed for Khalfia. He can't keep it in so hacks it into the stands.
    • 41' Morocco have a free-kick now which Basser-Chretien will pump upfield. Amrabat gives chase but can't keep it in.
    • 40' Tunisia win a throw on the left wing and will take their sweet time over this as they break up the play, Egypt-style.
    • 39' The corner comes in finally but headed well over by Amrabat.
    • 38' A corner to Morocco but the ref holds up play to sort out some shirt pulling.
    • 37' Morocco attack now, great cross from Assaidi but Haggui nicks it behind for a corner as Boussafa was set to score!
    • 36' Khalifa chases a long ball but Lamyahgri kicks clear. Benatia brings it forward, wide to Assaidi but Amrabat gives it away! Dhaouadi is clean through and Lamyaghri rushes out with a slide tackle that gets to the ball first - but only just!
    • 35' Well then. Morocco have missed some chances, but so have Tunisia. Still has been Morocco's game so far, and they will be furious if they lose this. Long ball aimed for Chamakh bounces over his haircut and to Mathlouthi.
    • 34' Khalifa is claiming it but that is Korbi's goal, the floated cross deceiving everyone and pushed in off the post by Lamyaghri. Totally against the run of play!
    • 33' GOAL TUNISIA! Terrible defending from the free-kick and Korbi's cross in goes straight in!
    • 32' Dhaouadi on a great run after a loose pass from Belhanda and a cynical trip from Benatia. Yellow card.
    • 31' Basser almost completes a one-two with Chamakh but Tunisia clear. Jemal is okay and comes back on to the pitch.
    • 30' Jemal is down injured for Tunisia, looking in some pain...
    • 29' Boussafa swings over the corner but Tunisia clear. El-Kaddouri gets back to slide in on Khalifa.
    • 28' El-Kaddouri chips in a nice dipping free-kick but not enough pace and Mathlouthi has little trouble tipping it over.
    • 27' Bit of confusion as they have a mothers' meeting with the ref - and he has given a free-kick just outside the box! Surely that was a penalty - unless the ref penalised the initial shirt-pull and not the kick. Maybe that's it?
    • 26' Chamakh is kicked in the face by Abdennour as they went for a header and I think that's a penalty!
    • 25' Korbi takes out Boussafa and he is the first to be booked in this match.
    • 24' Dhaouadi limps off for extra treatment as the ref chats to Basser/Chretien. His mum is French, which is where his official surname comes from, but his dad Moroccan, hence Basser.
    • 23' After that wonderful effort Dhaouadi has gone down injured, Chretien (listed here as "Basser" as he is playing for Morocco) catching him.
    • 22' OFF THE POST BY DHAOUADI! A surprise effort from range, shoulder-high and seems to be going wide but an outrageous curl on it and off the outside of the post!
    • 21' Morocco are dominating possession though, Tunisia struggling to get out of their half. Kharja with a strong tackle on halfway and it opens up - he surges forward, finding Assaidi wide left who cuts inside and shoots but weak and straight at Mathlouthi.
    • 20' Assaidi with a hanging cross but cleared by Haggui. Bousoufa fouls defender Ifa. Like almost half this squad, he plays in Tunisia. Unusual by African standards, but the Tunisian league is quite strong, second only to Egypt's in my opinion.
    • 19' Boussoufa with the corner but Haggui heads clear. Back to Lamyaghri.
    • 18' Boussafa with a wonderful turn past Abdennour and he rifles it on goal but palmed behind by Mathlouthi!
    • 17' Benatia with a foul on Khalfia and it goes the other way.
    • 16' Free-kick to Tunisia after some head-tennis in midfield.
    • 15' This has been an excellent start from Morocco and Tunisia have not been bad either - the gap in quality is clear following Gabon-Niger.
    • 14' Free-kick to Morocco on the left, Boussafa to swing it in... good punch clear from the recovered Mathlouthi.
    • 13' Had Chamakh been a touch sharper and more confident he'd have lofted it over the advancing keeper - as it was he went for power. Mathlouthi has taken a knock in that incident, and is receiving treatement.
    • 12' GREAT SAVE MATHLOUTHI! Chamakh and Amrabat with a super one-two, Chamakh blasted it on goal but the keeper flew out to bat away!
    • 11' Abdennour is all over Chamakh as that corner comes in but the ref ignores it and the keeper Mathlouthi claims. Should be a penalty but refs always bottle those decisions.
    • 10' Great run from Amrabat wide right, but Jemal does really well to block the cross at the last!
    • 9' Down the other end Amrabat again gives chase to a long ball but once more the defenders shepherd it back to the keeper despite the attentions of the pacy midfielder.
    • 8' Hacked away to touch after that. What a save from the Morocco man!
    • 7' The corner comes in and it bounces at the feet of HAGGUI WITH A HALF-VOLLEY but a fine reflex stop from Lamyaghri!
    • 6' Corner to Tunisia on the right, all the defenders come up...
    • 5' Amrabat on the charge but he can't beat Haggui to it. Another Dutch-born wide-man. 13 of the 23 Morocco squad born in Europe.
    • 4' Good catch from Mathlouthi after a tasty cross from wide right, Korbi putting it in.
    • 3' Boussoufa sees a gap so shoots for goal but just over! Audacious effort from the Dutch-born winger! The former Chelsea trainee made his name in Belgium but earned a nice money move to Russia and it's easy to see why!
    • 2' Morocco win an early free-kick just on the right-hand corner of the box... Dangerous position, Boussafa of Anzhi to take...
    • 1' The first half is underway! Seats emptying out after Gabon's earlier win - ridiculous given who's playing now, but understandable as they will want to party.
    • 18:55 The teams tend to come in late in Africa, no need to explain why - but Dhaouadi is in for Jemaa for Tunisia.
    • 18:50 By the way, you can hit me up on Twitter on @Reda_Maher (and yes, you can use French or Arabic in Latin script if you like). FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 18:45 Yup, confirmation that Jemaa is out for at least two matches. Thanks to France 24's Clovis Casali for that news.
    • 18:40 Issam Jemaa, meanwhile, would be the one to watch for Tunisia but he is out injured I hear - top scorer in qualifying with six goals, he would have caused problems for Morocco.
    • 18:35 So Marouane Chamakh starts for Morocco - hilariously it has been pointed out that Arsenal have lost three games in a row since he departed for Africa. Tee hee.
    • 18:30 TEAMS - Morocco: Lamyaghri, Chretien, Benatia, Kantari, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Boussoufa, Kharja, Amrabat, Assaidi, Chamakh; Subs: Amsif, El Kaoutari, Hermach, Taarabt, El Ahmadi, El Arabi, Boukhriss, Alioui, Mrani, Carcela-Gonzalez, Hadji, Badd /// Tunisia: Mathlouthi, Abdennour, Haggui, Ifa, Jemal, Korbi, Traoui, Chikhaoui, Dhaouadi, Allagui, Khelifa; Subs: Ben Cherifia, Chedli, Ragued, Msakni, Darragi, Chammam, Ben Yahia, Jemaa, Boussaidi, Saihi, Chermiti, Jeridi
    • - Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Morocco v Tunisia, a North African derby in Group C of the African Cup of Nations, kicking off at 7pm.

  • Summary

    • 90+4 Morocco piling it on now! Taarabt to Belhanda, wide to Amrabat, he skins one man, then another, AND BENATIA but he mis-heads it wide!!
    • 90+3 INCES OVER FROM KHARJA! Almost a wonder goal from Kharja, tricky feet to make the space and s curling effort that the sprawling Mathlouthi is delighted to see miss!
    • 86' GOAL MOROCCO! Kharja taps it in after a super header across the face of goal by El-Kaoutari! Amrabat with the original cross.
    • 76' SECOND GOAL TUNISIA! Msakni with a solo effort, weaving in and out to beat two defenders before drilling a low shot that seemed to take a deflection to leave Lamyaghri flat-footed. Inside the bottom left and that is that, a proper smash and grab. The new Egypt anyone?
    • 69' Tunisia counter and Traoui is in, good low drive well saved by Lamyaghri and the loose ball lands to Dhaouadi who inexplicably crosses when the net was gaping and it's over the head of Msakni and away!
    • 66' WHAT A MISS FROM HADJI! Brilliant first touch to kill a high ball and leave Abdennour for dead but the second was a shocker, putting it five yards wide with just the keeper to beat! That was a Bergkamp-esque first touch, and, well, me for the second!!
    • 62' Hadji races in down the left and the angle is tight but he shoots anyway, blasting over with Korbi sliding in.
    • 48' Boussoufa lofts it in for Chamakh, he knocks it back to TAARABT whose shot is palmed behind by Mathlouthi! Immediate impact!
    • 46' Taarabt immediately on the ball and his cross seems to strike an arm but the ref waves play on!
    • 45+1 JUST OVER FROM CHAMAKH! Really brave by both Chamakh and Mathlouthi to fly in for that high cross and it flies over.
    • 43' Chamakh is fouled by Traoui, who gets a final warning. Taken quickly and Belhanda shimmies away from Abdennour before letting rip with a low drive but putting it inches wide!
    • 37' Morocco attack now, great cross from Assaidi but Haggui nicks it behind for a corner as Boussafa was set to score!
    • 36' Khalifa chases a long ball but Lamyahgri kicks clear. Benatia brings it forward, wide to Assaidi but Amrabat gives it away! Dhaouadi is clean through and Lamyaghri rushes out with a slide tackle that gets to the ball first - but only just!
    • 33' GOAL TUNISIA! Terrible defending from the free-kick and Korbi's cross in goes straight in!
    • 28' El-Kaddouri chips in a nice dipping free-kick but not enough pace and Mathlouthi has little trouble tipping it over.
    • 27' Bit of confusion as they have a mothers' meeting with the ref - and he has given a free-kick just outside the box! Surely that was a penalty - unless the ref penalised the initial shirt-pull and not the kick. Maybe that's it?
    • 26' Chamakh is kicked in the face by Abdennour as they went for a header and I think that's a penalty!
    • 22' OFF THE POST BY DHAOUADI! A surprise effort from range, shoulder-high and seems to be going wide but an outrageous curl on it and off the outside of the post!
    • 18' Boussafa with a wonderful turn past Abdennour and he rifles it on goal but palmed behind by Mathlouthi!
    • 12' GREAT SAVE MATHLOUTHI! Chamakh and Amrabat with a super one-two, Chamakh blasted it on goal but the keeper flew out to bat away!
    • 11' Abdennour is all over Chamakh as that corner comes in but the ref ignores it and the keeper Mathlouthi claims. Should be a penalty but refs always bottle those decisions.
    • 7' The corner comes in and it bounces at the feet of HAGGUI WITH A HALF-VOLLEY but a fine reflex stop from Lamyaghri!
    • 3' Boussoufa sees a gap so shoots for goal but just over! Audacious effort from the Dutch-born winger! The former Chelsea trainee made his name in Belgium but earned a nice money move to Russia and it's easy to see why!
    • 18:30 TEAMS - Morocco: Lamyaghri, Chretien, Benatia, Kantari, El Kaddouri, Belhanda, Boussoufa, Kharja, Amrabat, Assaidi, Chamakh; Subs: Amsif, El Kaoutari, Hermach, Taarabt, El Ahmadi, El Arabi, Boukhriss, Alioui, Mrani, Carcela-Gonzalez, Hadji, Badd /// Tunisia: Mathlouthi, Abdennour, Haggui, Ifa, Jemal, Korbi, Traoui, Chikhaoui, Dhaouadi, Allagui, Khelifa; Subs: Ben Cherifia, Chedli, Ragued, Msakni, Darragi, Chammam, Ben Yahia, Jemaa, Boussaidi, Saihi, Chermiti, Jeridi

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Morocco

    Manager: Eric Gerets

  • Tunisia

    Manager: Sami Trabelsi

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.7 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 5.4 7
      Yellow Card 5.7 6
      5.5 7
      Yellow Card 5.4 7
      Midfielders
      5.9 6
      Goal 5.7 7
      6 7
      Substitution Out60′ 6 7
      Substitution Out45′ 5.3 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out78′ 5.7 7
      Subs
      Substitution In60′ 5.3 5
      Substitution In45′ 5.9 7
      Substitution In78′ 6.4 7
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 7.6 8
      Defenders
      5.7 7
      6.5 8
      6 7
      Yellow Card 5.9 7
      Midfielders
      Goal Yellow Card 6.2 7
      5.9 7
      Substitution Out80′ 6.1 7
      Substitution Out65′ 6.1 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out57′ 5.9 6
      6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In65′ 5.6 6
      Substitution In80′ 4.9 6
      Substitution In57′ Goal 8.1 7

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