Trailing 1-0 to France shortly before halftime in Wednesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal, Morocco center back Jawad El Yamiq almost found an equalizer with an outrageous bicycle kick from 12 yards out.
Initially it looked like the overhead attempt had thumped directly off the base of the post, but it was counted as a shot on target and save for Hugo Lloris after replays showed the French goalkeeper getting his fingertips to it to help aid it onto the woodwork.
Without Lloris' touch, maybe the shot hits the inside of the post and goes in.
BIKE KICK OFF THE POST
Morocco almost tied things up in an incredible fashion pic.twitter.com/tdqSsyDs55— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 14, 2022
Morocco nearly had a potential goal of the tournament pic.twitter.com/KLS17drnJN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 14, 2022
The roof would've come off Al Bayt Stadium with almost everyone inside the 68,895-seat ground supporting Morocco.
It also would've been an incredible piece of redemption for El Yamiq after he was somewhat at fault for France's opener. The defender tried to intercept Raphaël Varane's pass for Antoine Griezmann, but Griezmann took possession and turned into the vacant space to create the danger.
THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS SCORE FIRST
Theo Hernández puts France out in front pic.twitter.com/8YFbCwGN9d— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 14, 2022
El Yamiq started playing like a man possessed after that.
What a tackle in the box this was by Jawad El Yamiq pic.twitter.com/mSt951mHfk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 14, 2022
