Ez Abde scored his first goal of the season for Real Betis Balompié, a decisive strike in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Getafe that allows him to move past recent controversy over his commitment to the Morocco national team. The Moroccan winger finished with his right foot just before half-time at the Estadio de la Cartuja, in a move started by Deossa and completed by a back-pass from Irish forward Troy Parrot.
The celebration was tinged with suspense as VAR reviewed a possible handball by Abde in the control before the shot. After a few minutes of waiting in the VOR room, the goal was validated, sparking joy from the player, who danced in front of the stand where part of his family was watching.
The days leading up to the match were marked by insults and criticism the Moroccan international received in his home country for wearing a Betis shirt in support of the people of Ceuta during a match at La Cerámica. Abde was forced to issue a statement clarifying his position, a gesture publicly backed this Thursday by the national team coach, Mohamed Ouahbi. "No one can doubt his love for Morocco and his commitment to the national team," the manager stated.
This goal, which set Betis on the path to their fourth consecutive league win, comes after a strong performance against Villarreal and solidifies his importance to the team's setup. The next fixture is a trip to Riazor to face seventh-placed Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, September 20th. The team faces this stretch without Aitor Ruibal, who remains sidelined, a detail that can be followed on the injuries list.
Read the full report at ABC Deportes
