Boyz go down again

CASABLANCA, (Reuters): MOROCCO beat Jamaica 1-0 yesterday to set up a rendezvous with World champions France in tomorrow's final of the King Hassan-II tournament in Casablanca.

It was Jamaica's third loss under new technical director Sebastiao Lazaroni who took charge of the team in April. The Brazilian is still chasing his first win with the 1998 World Cup finalists.

In addition to yesterday's defeat Jamaica have lost two friendlies (0-1 to Panama and 0-3 to Colombia). They drew 0-0 with Romania in another friendly game.

After an even first half, Morocco pushed hard in the second and had their efforts rewarded with a goal set up by Deportivo Coruna's Salaheddine Bassir in the 61st minute.

Jamaica's goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts parried his shot but substitute Hicham Zeraouli slotted the ball home for the winner.

The home side, playing before 70,000 spectators, came close to scoring a second goal when a header by midfielder Mourad Hdioud hit the bar with five minutes to play.

In the day's opening game France, warming up for Euro 2000, beat Japan 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Roma star Hidetoshi Nakata and Atsuhiro Miura missed penalties for Japan to send the world champions through to the final.

Experienced defender Hiroaki Morishima opened the scoring for Japan in the 34th minute but a piece of Zinedine Zidane magic made it 1-1 in the 61st. The Juventus star dashed onto a long Emmanuel Petit pass, lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki with his right foot and knocked the ball in with his left.

Japan, coached by Frenchman Philippe Troussier, were back ahead within nine minutes, when Daisuke Oku banged in a superb, angled right-footed volley from ten metres.

But in the 75th minute, Zidane inspired another goal. This time he robbed defender Naoki Matsuda and supplied Nicolas Anelka, whose cross was tapped in by Youri Djorkaeff. Chances continued to flow. In the 81st minute Fabien Barthez tipped over a superb Nakata lob. With seconds on the clock Anelka burst through but after rounding the keeper headed over.

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