Going Down Fighting: The Day VAR Ruined Morocco’s Pride Restoration Battle

North African fans were going bananas for all the right reasons at the Kaliningrad Stadium. They’re jettisoned from the events in Russia but still stood on the brink of making history. Malaga’s Youssef En-Nesyri was the sensation pulling off the wow factor for the Atlas Lions. The oppositions were no ordinary foes. It was Spain, ex-World champions and the architect of modern day tiki-taka football.

Ecstasy enveloped the Moroccan bench as the substitutes, in a fit of pure excitement, paced up and down like a regiment of victorious troops on verge of nervous breakdown. No one had favoured this Moroccan team of being capable of inflicting any meaningful damage on a star-studded La Furia Roja side in the run up to the duel.

The clock read 81 minutes as it all looked settled with heavyweights Spain brought down to their knees.

En-Nesyri wriggled out free in a crowded box and out-jumped Real Madrid and Spain captain of the night Sergio Ramos to connect a calculated header that bolted past a stunned centre-back Pique and a motionless Manchester United’s David de Gea into the net. It capped off a moment of complete gallantry for the Lions and a gamut of emotions to run through for Spain.

Photo: En-Nesyri’s stunning late goals for Morocco

A spectre of desolation took over as Spanish players stared on in sheer disbelief at the scenery greeting them.

It was all Morocco’s by this time until new entrant Iago Aspas’ back-heel goal in added time, made eligible by the Video Assistant Referee, altered the dynamics.

Photo: Moment of magic. Aspas back-heels to save Spain’s face

The Celte de Vigo goal-getter was inexplicably left unmarked by the Atlas defence and the 30-year-old, subject of transfer interest from Europe’s moneybags, merely back-heeled the effort into the net to send Spain top of Group B.

Photo: The dispute rages on as the referee awaits instructions prior to allowing Spain’s goal

Referee Ravshan Imatov immediately ruled it an offside but then rescinded the verdict to give a goal.

A moment relief it was for the La Rojas.

Photo: The subject of controversy in the football world. The VAR is accused of killing the human aspect of the game

The incident has reignited debate over whether the VAR should continue to be given the thumbs-up in the sport.

Prior to this, the Africans were in the lead When Kalid Boutib pried on a loose ball culminating from a misunderstanding between Iniesta and Ramos, to scamper into the box before letting fly a low drive that went between the legs of de Gea.

Isco equalized to spare his side of their blushes with a cool finish.

The performance they showed tonight would have seen them still vying for the staked prize if they had displayed the same vigor in their previous matches. Nonetheless, they bow out of Russia heads held high with at least a point.