ADVERTISEMENT
FULL TIMELast update 5:16 PM ET
It's over! What a hard-fought match we witnessed in these 99 minutes in Qatar. Despite Mali's numerous attempts, they didn't have enough time to score a good goal that would have taken them to penalties. A great match played by Morocco.
Key moments
What a thing! The referee sent off a member of Mali's coaching staff, and also went to VAR to review the goal play. What a complex moment it is, however, he has already awarded the goal after a brief review.
Goal, goal, goal, goal for Mali! What a great appearance by Berthé, the player appeared from the lower zone with a powerful shot that ends up embedded in the back of the net to reduce the advantage on the Moroccan scoreboard.
There's plenty of time! The referee has decided that eight minutes of added time must be given to the match; it will be a thrilling finish where both teams are expected to look for ways to create more damage.
That was it! Diatiké was looking for the second goal of the game, the player reached the area at full speed, but it was Bellaarouch who managed to prevent the play from growing and scoring that much-needed goal.
Bomba has not found enough space to orchestrate a new dangerous play, what a complex match for Mali, the visiting team has not been able to find a way to add a second goal to the scoreboard. They need unless one goal.
There's another change for the home side, Morocco continues to make adjustments in this complex match. Ahmed Mouhoub enters the game looking to generate more damage, Zakari El Khalfioui leaves the duel.
Bayo and Doumbia are the ones who have not stopped looking for ways to generate danger in the danger zone, the matter is complex, both teams have looked for ways to go for more goals in the danger zone, it is a constant back and forth.
Fane and Dembélé keep looking for spaces to go for those goals they need, Morocco already has a two-goal advantage, the Mali squad has not found a way to add goals up front for their people, what a mess.
Substitutions by both teams, looking for ways to create danger in the opponent's half. Morocco takes off Zakri and Baha, with Dardake and Haddani coming on. For Mali, Mohamed Traore replaces Zoumana Ballo.
Goal, goal, goal, goal for Morocco! The home team continued to look for ways to create danger, and once again it was Ismail El Aoud who received the ball from a distance and sent it flying towards goal to make it 3-0.
Dembélé looks for a way to create, the player reached the end line and was looking for a way to add the second goal of the game for Mali, but the ball ended up going very wide without generating the necessary damage.
Morocco makes a change for this match, altering the starting lineup of the home team. Ilyas El Araboui and Joseph Bellahsen will enter the game looking to create scoring opportunities and good moments in attack, replacing Abdelali Eddaoudi and Hamza Bouhaddi.
Both teams are looking for ways to create danger and exciting moments, however they have achieved little or nothing, both teams are looking to add more goals, they need more ingenuity in attack.
Almost! Bomba managed to strike the ball dangerously looking for the second for Mali, however the ball ended up being deflected by Bellaarouch, who manages to keep the shot from going under his three posts.
Morocco is saved! What a great ball Fane sent in for the visitors, the ball traveled with great speed, for Bomba to appear in the area, but the shot ended up going over the goal without causing any damage.
Play resumes for the second half, and Mali makes a substitution before the start of the match. Coulibaly leaves the game and Souleymane Doumbia takes his place, looking for the second goal to level the score once again.
The first half ends. It's been a lively and complicated match, with little to show for it. Morocco is currently leading. The teams will head into halftime looking to adjust their tactics and push for more goals in the second half.
45+11
Goal! Goal! Goal! It is in the previous free kick where the ball travels to the area, there Ismail El Aoud makes his presence felt, who manages to make his shot end up in the back of the net of the Mali team, putting the second one.
Nothing to it! Fane's yellow card stands. The referee determines that the foul where the Malian player brought down Bouhaddi wasn't a red card offense. With this review, a green card has now been disallowed for each side.
VAR! The Moroccan bench appeals for a red card for Mali. Fane brought down Hamza Bouhaddi, and the coach argues it was a hard tackle on his player, so the play is reviewed in their favor.
Goal, goal, goal, goal for Mali! It was Ndjicoura Bomba who took the ball to look for the goal that tied the score, the player positioned himself from the penalty spot and managed to put the ball into the back of the net to make it one to one.
After reviewing the play, the referee upholds the penalty decision, without showing the Moroccan player a red card. This is Mali's chance to find the goal that will tie the score on this very difficult pitch.
Penalty for Mali! It is Eddaoudi who ends up hitting a Mali player in the head with a kick, what a complex situation, now it is the coach who asks for a review of the play, because he is looking for the expulsion.
Four minutes are added to this first half, what a lively and complicated match it has been, however little has been achieved after the goal. They need more generations in this part before the end of this first.
Dembélé is looking for a way to get dangerously close to the opponent's area, what a complicated situation, Mali wants to score the goal that will tie the game, however, they have not been successful in their few attempts.
It's gone! Sinaba managed to prevent Saïbi's shot from going into his net. The match is complicated for Mali; if their coach wants them to wake up, he will have to modify his lineup to improve and retain possession.
It was close! The Moroccan team continues to look to create chances, once again Ziyad Baha headed the ball powerfully in search of the second goal of the game, but Sinaba ended up holding onto the ball in a great way.
That's it! A good defensive sweep was orchestrated by Elyes Saïdi, the player managed to move the ball away from his area and thus prevent the ball from being shot towards his goal, looking for the equalizing goal.
Goal, goal, goal, goal for Morocco! Great service to the far post by the Moroccan squad to take a free kick, in that area Ziyad Baha was present with a powerful header that ends up sending the ball into the back of the net.
Morocco came so close, it was a deflected ball that headed towards the top corner, Idhaoui appeared in the area to shoot the ball, but the ball ended up going over the goal, what a complicated situation.
Mali needs to recover some ground. Morocco has been the more dominant side and has had more possession. They need to wake up if they want to be the first to open the scoring, what a game they are giving.
Bellaarouch and Sinaba have had little to do. Both teams are battling hard in midfield, but haven't managed to create any real danger. The ball is moving around quite a bit as both sides look for a goal.
What a fast-paced match this has been! It's been a constant back-and-forth, but neither team has managed to create enough danger to break the deadlock. They need more good plays, they need to make their best.
Moncef Zekri was arriving looking to create danger in the penalty area, however, a foul was called against the player who was trying to hold off the Malian defender. Morocco started generating danger in attack.
They're on their toes! Morocco started fighting for possession, but the Malian defense managed to clear the ball that came into their area far from the goal. The game started hard-fought on this pitch; it will be very entertaining.
Little by little, the teams are building their plays. It's a constant back and forth; neither team has taken control of the ball and is covering the field left and right. It's expected that gradually a team will gain the upper hand.
The match between Morocco and Mali kicks off. Both teams are looking to score goals and create exciting plays that will give them the victory and passage to the quarterfinals. It will be a thrilling encounter at the Qatari stadium.
Mali Starting XI
This is how the visiting team lines up for this important game that is about to begin.
Lamine Sinaba; Aboubacar Camara, Tiemoko Berthe, Lamine Kieta, Mohamed Traore, Ibrahim Diakite, Issa Koné, Modibo Coulibaly, Ndjicoura Bomba, Soumaila Fané, Seydou Dembélé.
Morocco Starting XI
This is how the Moroccan squad takes to the field for this match. The teams will deliver a unique 90 minutes.
Chouaib Bellaarouch; Ilyas Hidaoui, Bilal Soukrat, Elyes Saïdi, Moncef Zekri, Hamza Bouhaddi, Oualid Ibn Salah, Zakari El Khalfioui, Ismail El Aoud, Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha.
Llegaba Moncef Zekri buscando generar peligro en zona de riesgo, sin embargo se termina marcando una falta en contra del jugador que buscaba retener al defensa de Malí, los marroquís iniciaron generando peligro al frente.
Let's go!
Ndjicoura Bomba has scored two goals in his last two matches. The visiting team will look to use him to create scoring opportunities and good plays to secure a good result. It will be a very competitive match.
He is looking for more
Nahël Haddani comes into this match having scored a hat-trick so far, the home team will be looking for ways to continue adding goals and go for those good moments where they can take the lead on the scoreboard.
Almost there!
There's just under half an hour left before this duel kicks off; it will be 90 minutes where both teams will look to create dangerous chances and score goals to secure a victory. It will be exciting moments.
Only one!
These teams have only faced each other once before, back in 2013. On that occasion, Mali won 1-0, so Morocco is looking to add more goals to their tally in this match and secure a victory. They will make their best.
Let's go!
Mali has so far scored 11 goals for his team, and in addition to a match where he failed to score a single goal, he hopes to give his best and add more goals to ensure the match ends with goals in his favor.
More is needed!
Morocco comes into this match with 17 goals, sixteen of which were scored against New Caledonia in a lopsided game. They will be looking to add more goals to their tally. They have also failed to score in their last three matches.
That's it!
Mali is in good form heading into the Round of 16, with four wins and one loss in their last five matches. It will be a very exciting and thrilling match as both teams look to secure a victory, what a game.
What a moment!
Morocco comes into this match after three losses and two wins in their last five games. The home team will be looking to turn things around and secure another win. They need to give their best in this complicated match.
We're back!
We're back with live coverage of the match between Morocco and Mali, a Round of 16 fixture. We'll be sharing the most relevant information, as well as the confirmed starting lineups for both teams, shortly.
