Reds duo bow out of the World Cup with Portugal
Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot have seen their FIFA World Cup 2022 journey cut short after Portugal were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Both of our Reds featured from the start, but Dalot made way for Ricardo Horta on the 80-minute mark as Fernandes saw out the full 90.
Morocco took the lead in the first 45 through Youssef En-Nesyri, with what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
Our no.8 came close to equalising for his country just before half-time, but could only watch as his looping volley hit the crossbar and bounced away.
Fernando Santos's side came agonisingly close to a dream start in the opening 10 minutes, after Joao Felix saw his diving header saved well by Yassine Bounou between the Morocco sticks.
The African side increasingly grew into the game, with Hakim Ziyech at the heart of the action going forward, dragging a long-range shot wide of the goal.
Minutes before the break, the Atlas Lions would take the lead through En-Nesyri who beat Diogo Costa to Yahia Attiyat Allah's cross into the box, effectively heading into an empty net that the Portuguese goalkeeper had vacated.
Fernandes's looping effort moments later caught Bounou off his line, but the crossbar would stand in the way of an instant equaliser.
Santos didn't waste too much time in the second half before bringing on multiple attacking substitutes, including record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, but things never really clicked for the Portuguese who struggled to create clear-cut chances as Morocco soaked up the pressure.
In the early stages of stoppage time, Ronaldo had a huge opportunity to force the game into extra-time, but his low effort was saved by formidable shot-stopper Bounou down at his near past.
Attiyat Allah played through Zakaria Aboukhlal in the final moments, who had a brilliant chance to put the game to bed but Costa was equal to his effort and kept Portugal in it for a few minutes more.
But, just as they have been throughout the tournament, Morocco were well drilled at the back and saw out the 1-0 win. They are the only side in the 2022 tournament who are yet to concede a goal scored by an opponent - the only strike against them coming from one of their own players.
Morocco's win is a moment in history, as they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
Their resilient performance means they will now meet either England or France, who face each other this evening (10 December) with kick-off at 19:00 GMT.
Commiserations to Bruno and Diogo, who both did us proud in Qatar.