Portugal has overcome Morocco 1-0 in the first game of the Matchday 2 in the Group B at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, sending the Atlas Lions home already after the group stage. Portugal satisfied the odds as they were -143 favorites to beat Morocco, while the match was ended in the under of the total of 2.5 goals at -142.
Game Recap
Portugal made a terrific start of the game, as they took the lead just four minutes into the first half when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a close-range header from Joao Moutinho cross, but it was the only goal in this clash. From that moment, Portugal decided to defend the lead, while Morocco was trying to do something in the next 86 minutes of play at Luzhniki Stadium, but the Atlas Lions couldn’t find the way through a sturdy Portugal defense to stay goalless after their second match of the tournament.
The Atlas Lions had the ball on their feet for 54% of the time, taking 16 shots towards Rui Patricio’s net, four of them on target, but once again they showed some poor finishing job with a lack of focus in the final third. On the other side, Portugal took ten shots towards Morocco’s net, just two went on target, but Cristiano Ronaldo was the decisive factor once again, as he looks in a lethal finishing form at the moment.
Portugal satisfied the odds as they were -143 favorites to win this clash, but couldn’t cover the spread at -1.5 with the wages at +200, so some bettors who believed in Portugal’s dominance are certainly disappointed. The game went in the under of the total of 2.5 goals at -142, while the brave who wagered on the under 1.5 goals are ecstatic with the wages at +205.
Portugal is now one step from the knock-out phase, and in the ultimate game of the group stage they will face Iran as -225 favorites to grab a win, while the odds on Portugal to beat the 2018 World Cup are +1800. Cristiano Ronaldo added one more goal to his account, so he has four at the moment with the odds at +125 to win the 2018 Golden Boot. Morocco will travel home after the ultimate game against Spain, and the Atlas Lions are huge +960 underdogs to upset the Red Fury, according to BetDSI Sportsbook.
