Doha, December 11 (QNA) - The Moroccan national team qualified for the semi-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 after defeating Syria 1-0 in their quarter-final match held on Thursday at Khalifa International Stadium.
Morocco owes its victory to Walid Azaro, who scored the only goal of the match in the 79th minute.
The Syrian team pressed forward, adopting a cautious approach in defense.
Morocco, on the other hand, dominated possession in midfield, but lacked effectiveness and danger, with their attempts limited to crosses from both flanks.
Mahmoud Al Mawas posed the first threat with a shot from beyond the halfway line, but it went over the crossbar in the seventh minute.
Morocco responded with a header from Al Wakrah's Amin Zahzouh, but Syrian goalkeeper Elias Hedaya made a brilliant save, turning the ball behind for a corner in the 13th minute.
Tariq Sektioui was forced to make a substitution in the 23rd minute after PAOK Thessaloniki's Tarik Tissoudali suffered an injury, bringing on Walid Azaro.
Syria appealed for a penalty after Mahmoud Al Aswad went down in the box following a challenge from Moroccan defender Soufiane Bouftini. However, after consulting VAR, Chilean referee Cristian Garay decided against awarding the penalty in the 29th minute.
Syria threatened the Moroccan goal with a ball that reached Mahmoud Al Mawas on the left flank, who passed it to the onrushing Mahmoud Al Aswad, but the Moroccan defense cleared the danger in the 38th minute.
The score remained level at halftime.
In the second half, Morocco maintained their attacking momentum, while Syria maintained a balanced defensive performance.
Morocco had a chance to take the lead through Mohamed Boulksout, but Syrian defender Abdul Razzaq Mohammed cleared the danger in the 52nd minute. About five minutes later, Walid Azaro headed the ball towards goal, but Syrian goalkeeper Elias Hedaya made the save.

Morocco had an opportunity to take the lead through Mohamed Boulksout, but Syrian defender Abdul Razzaq Mohammed cleared the danger.
Syrian goalkeeper Elias Hedaya made a brilliant save in the 70th minute, denying Oussama Tannane's powerful shot from inside the penalty area.
Morocco took the lead in the 79th minute through Walid Azaro, who pounced on a rebound after Hedaya parried a powerful shot from outside the box by Mounir Chouiar.
Syria coach Jose Lana brought on Al Wahda striker Omar Khribin and Yassine Samia in the 80th minute, hoping to create numerical superiority in attack and equalize.
Morocco were reduced to ten men in the 90th minute when Mohamed Moufid was sent off for a violent tackle.
Syria pressed hard in the final minutes and nearly leveled the score, but the Moroccan defense held firm, securing their place in the semi-finals.
They await the winner of Friday's match between Algeria and the UAE. (QNA)