En-Nesyri sends Morocco into World Cup semifinals

That meant there was no place for five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who began on the bench for the second consecutive game.

Santos made just one change to his lineup, with Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves taking the place of Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho.

Morocco boss Walid Regragui, meanwhile, was forced to leave out defenders Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui due to injury. They were replaced by Yahia Attiyat Allah and Jawad El Yamiq.

Portugal began brightly with Joao Felix and Raphael Guerreiro denied in the early minutes by Morocco's miserly defense.

Felix made clean contact with a diving header after Bruno Fernandes' floating free-kick only to see his shot was parried away by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Guerreiro then had a first-time volley blocked by Achraf Hakimi after another Fernandes delivery into the penalty area.

But Morocco soon composed themselves as En-Nesyri headed over from a corner and Hakim Ziyech cut inside Otavio before lashing a left-footed drive wide.

Morocco suddenly had Portugal on the back foot. En-Nesyri should have done better when he leapt above his marker following a Ziyech free-kick before directing his header over the bar.

Selim Amallah blazed over after Attiyat Allah's cross from left and then Sofiane Boufal fired an attempt straight at Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa on the counterattack.

After a slow start, Felix began to assert his influence, shooting narrowly wide with the outside of his right boot after El Yamiq's headed clearance and then sending a first-time effort over the top after a cross from the left.