Brazil and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw in the first heavyweight clash at the World Cup on Saturday, with the African side confirming their potential while exposing familiar weaknesses in their opponents at a sold-out New York/New Jersey stadium.
Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a deserved first-half lead before Vinicius Jr produced a moment of brilliance to restore parity and ensure the points were shared in the opening Group C clash.
The result leaves the group finely balanced ahead of Haiti’s meeting with Scotland later on Saturday in the other group clash.
For Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, the performance offered further proof that they can challenge the game’s traditional powers.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were left with questions to answer after a disjointed display in which they were repeatedly stretched by their opponents’ pace and movement.
“I don’t think we started the game well, the team was a bit nervous, we lost possession too often and lost too many challenges. The first half was not good,” said Ancelotti, who noted that Brazil had improved after the break.
“It improved in the second half; it’s a tough game because Morocco is a good team. I think there was a bit of nervousness. In the first half they broke out of our press and made dangerous counter-attacks.”
Morocco started the brighter, patiently working the ball down the flanks and posing an early threat through Achraf Hakimi and Bilal El Khannouss, while Brazil looked to strike on the counter.
Morocco repeatedly cut through Brazil’s midfield with alarming ease, exposing gaps between the lines as teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi showed his talent.
Brazil’s first sniff of a goal came in the 14th minute, but Igor Thiago failed to make the most of it, sending his header wide.
Frailties
Seven minutes later, the five-time world champion’s defensive frailties were exposed.
Lucas Paqueta was displaced in midfield, allowing Diaz to let Saibari through as centre-backs Marquinhos and Gabriel were caught flat-footed.
Alisson compounded the mistake with an ill-timed strike from his line and Saibari calmly lifted the ball over the keeper to give Morocco the lead.
Brazil continued to struggle against Morocco’s intensity and organization, although the Africans were unable to turn their superiority into further goals.
Instead, it only took a moment of brilliance from Vinicius to bring Brazil level in the 32nd minute.
Collecting a pass from Bruno Guimaraes on the left edge of the box, he cut onto his right foot and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Brazil almost completed the turnaround on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou reacted sharply to keep out Paqueta’s acrobatic scissor kick.
Midfielder Fabinho and defender Danilo came on for Casemiro and Roger Ibanez, who had a woeful first half, giving Brazil some more control of the game in the second half.
Brazil moved up a gear, showing more poise and forcing Morocco to defend more, although they struggled to create clear-cut chances until the 78th minute, when Raphinha met a cross from Vinicius.
The edge wore off as both sides largely avoided any risks. Brazil found some new energy in the final minutes, going close through Matheus Cunha, but they still lacked their vintage tricksters.
Both teams will have their chances to finish top of the group and have a potentially better path in the knockout stages.
