Youssef El-Arabi came off the bench in the second half and saved Morocco’s blushes as his 78th minute strike salvaged a point for the Atlas Lions in their 2013 African Cup of Nations Group A match against Cape Verde.
The Cape Verdians took the lead in the first half through danger man Luis Soares before a goal 12 minutes from time by El-Arabi saw the match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium finish 1-1 on Wednesday night.
The first 45 half belonged to the underdogs as Cape Verde dictated terms from the outset. Morocco, on the other hand, while looking technically superior and able to pass the ball about smoothly, they were unable to really create any clear-cut chances in front of goal in the opening stanza.
In the 36th minute Cape Verde finally made their first half pressure tell when a mistake in the Moroccan midfield resulted in the Blue Sharks taking the lead.
Mendes was quick to pounce on the mistake in the midfield and quickly supplied a pin-point through ball for Luis Soares to run onto and he made no mistake with just the keeper to beat, clinically chipping the ball over the onrushing Lamyaghri to give his side a deserved first half lead.
The second 45 was a little scrappy as neither side were really able to take control of the game which resulted in chances on goal being few and far between, at least in the opening stages of the second stanza.
Consequently, as the half progressed it was clear Morocco were getting frustrated which resulted in a spate of yellow cards for Younes Belhanda and Abdelaziz Barrada as Cape Verde ‘parked the bus’ in defence while the Atlas Lions tried to break them down.
Eventually, in 78th minute the North African side were able to make their dominance tell as substitute Youssef El-Arabi found the equaliser.
The goal was superbly set-up by Abdelaziz Barrada who drove down the right flank, making his way into the box before cutting the ball back to an unmarked El-Arabi who produced an expert finish from 12-yards out, 1-1.
The final ten minutes saw the Moroccan side pester the Blue Sharks goal, but they could not find the winner as the match finished all square.
Both sides are level on two points after goal less draws in their opening group A games and are behind group leaders South Africa who beat Angola 2-0.
The result leaves both nations with a chance to progress to the next round provided they win their games. Cape Verde will play Angola while Morocco have an uphill task against hosts South Africa.
