Morocco takes 2-1 lead over Spain in Group B

Morocco has taken the lead again against Spain, with substitute Youssef En Nesyri rising above Sergio Ramos to powerfully head home a corner in the 81st minute.

The goal gave Morocco a 2-1 lead with just nine minutes of regulation time left in the Group B match at Kaliningrad.

Earlier Isco had equalized for Spain in the 19th minute after Morocco took a surprising early lead in the last of the World Cup Group B games.


Khalid Boutaib scored Morocco's first goal of the World Cup after a mix-up between Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos. The Morocco striker then ran half the length of the pitch before calmly sliding the ball under the advancing David De Gea.

Iniesta almost immediately made amends for the slip, by cutting back the ball for Isco to level the scores five minutes later with a powerful close-range shot.

Morocco is already eliminated after losing its first two matches in Russia. A draw would be enough to see Spain progress.

Spain coach Fernando Hierro swapped Lucas Vazquez for Thiago Alcantara Monday in the only change to his side for the World Cup Group B match against Morocco, who dropped captain Mehdi Benatia.

Morocco's French manager Herve Renard said in the build-up to the game in Kaliningrad that his side had been victim to a "total injustice" in their first two games, both 1-0 losses.

Already out of last-16 contention, Renard opted for Wolves centre back Ghanem Saiss over Benatia in the only change to the side beaten by Portugal.

Hierro said before kick-off that his players would not underestimate a Morocco team that is just playing for pride.

Spain need a draw to ensure qualification from Group B, with Portugal playing Iran in the other match.

Spain:

David De Gea; Dani Carvajal, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Isco, Thiago Alcantara, David Silva; Diego Costa

Coach: Fernando Hierro (ESP)

Morocco:

Monir El-Kajoui; Achraf Hakimi, Manuel Da Costa, Ghanem Saiss, Nabil Dirar; Noureddine Amrabat, Mbark Boussoufa, Karim El-Ahmadi, Younes Belhanda, Hakim Ziyach; Khalid Boutaib

Coach: Herve Renard (FRA)

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)