Very few spectators turned up in Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion for the encounter between Costa Rica and Morocco, and the desolate atmosphere seemed to have an effect on the players, who never really got going. The Moroccans will probably be more satisfied with the 0-0 draw, having been reduced to ten men on the hour mark, though they will know they could have snatched victory after creating the best openings in the game. With a point each, both sides are still very much in the running for qualification.

The determination of the North Africans was evident even before the kick-off, when they gathered in a circle to listen to goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri deliver a rousing pep talk. The 'keeper's words seemed to have the desired effect as the Young Atlas Lions roared forward from the first whistle. They even had the ball in the net after just four minutes, when Bouabid Bouden headed home a Moncef Zerka cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The Moroccans continued to have the upper-hand in the early exchanges and were particularly dangerous down the right flank, but they could not carve out any clear-cut chances.

The Costa Ricans gradually came to grips with their opponents and went close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute, when Eric Scott tried to latch onto a long ball from the back only for Lamyaghri to surge from his box and make a desperation clearance.

That scare seemed to spark Mustapha Madih's men back into action, but though they regained the ascendancy, their finishing repeatedly let them down. On 25 minutes, Mehdi Taouil broke free down the wing but fired his shot into the stand. Two minutes later, Farid Talhaoui whipped in a wonderful cross from the right to the back post, where the unmarked Bouchaib El Moubarki attempted a spectacular volley only to miss miserably.

As the match progressed, the Moroccans again took their foot off the pedal, allowing the Ticos to pile on some pressure of their own and come close to breaking the deadlock. Roy Myre got on the end of another clearance from the back and lobbed the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper but had to watch it bounce wide.

Once again, the North Africans were quick to react and once again their shooting was awry, Oussama Souaidy (39') and Bouden (43') both spurning useful opportunities. Just as they had in the first half, the Moroccans came out after the interval with all guns blazing. Otmane El Assas rifled a 25-metre free-kick against the post in the 47th minute, and moments later El Moubarki twisted and turned his way into the box but could not find a way past the Costa Rican goalkeeper.

Morocco go down to ten men
As if trying to respect the established pattern of the match, the Moroccans then eased off again, and this time it was to be even more costly.  After escaping the attentions of his marker, Scott bore down on goal before having his legs taken from under him just outside the box by Jamal Alioui. As the last line of defence, Alioui had to get his marching orders. "The referee told me I was the last defender, that's why I was sent off,"  said the disappointed Moroccan captain after the game. "I'm not sure if it should have been a penalty or not." Carlos Hernandez stepped up to take the resultant free-kick, drawing a fine save from a fully-extended Lamyaghri (61').

Despite their numerical inferiority, the Moroccans still looked the more likely to  score, and in the 65th minute the excellent Talhaoui delivered another teasing cross, but El Moubarki's header flew narrowly wide. Three minutes later, the Al Wasl striker again went close, this time producing a delicate chip that Neighel Drummond just about managed to tip away.

As the match drifted towards its conclusion, the Costa Ricans went in search of a winner but failed to trouble the Moroccan defence unduly. The only really dangerous moment from the Ticos came in the 74th minute when Junior Diaz let fly from 25 metres but saw his shot well saved by the goalkeeper. The Moroccans made one last push for all three points but that was to be as fruitless as their previous efforts. "It was a very even match and both teams worked some clear openings," said Mustapha Madih afterwards, "but we can't deny that we let our concentration flag after Alioui's red card."

Madih's Costa Rican counterpart, Rodrigo Kenton, was broadly satisfied with his side's display, which was the country's first ever appearance in an Olympic Football Tournament. "It was a good match," he said, "If one team had managed to get their noses in front, they would certainly have gone on to win the game. I think we can build on this, and indeed we will have to get stronger if we are to win our next match." Kenton is surely not wrong, since his team's next opponents are Iraq, who pulled off a major surprise by beating highly-rated Portugal 4-2. Morocco, meanwhile, will be hoping they do not suffer a Portuguese backlash.