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FOXBORO — Morocco ultimately decided this Group C match with Scotland inside the opening two minutes.
Ismael Saibari’s second goal of this World Cup was an absolute stunner, and it made the difference in a 1-0 triumph.
Saibari’s right-footed strike rocketed across the penalty area and into the top left corner, leaving Scotland keeper Angus Gunn no chance. Brahim Diaz played provider just as he did for Saibari in Morocco’s opener, a 1-1 draw with Brazil.
Saibari described the moment as a career highlight, and that comes at the start of a summer where he’s expected to complete a club move to German giants Bayern Munich. His sizzling current form has the surprise semifinalists from 2022 just a win over Haiti away from clinching a return to the knockout stage.
“Playing in the World Cup with your country is a childhood dream – one that has come true,” Saibari said through FIFA's translation program. “And now, scoring two goals for my country, I’m very happy.”
Scotland entered this perfect Friday night at Boston Stadium atop the group, thanks to a 1-0 win over Haiti in its opener here. It ended the evening in third place after this result and Brazil steaming to victory over Haiti in Philadelphia, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice in the opening half and Vinicius Junior adding a third. That same side awaits Scotland in its next match, which will come next week in Miami.
“Never planned to start in that sort of manner, and it's really unlike us to do that,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “Normally we’re so defensively sound.”
The sellout crowd of 64,146 fans were barely settled into their seats when Morocco jumped ahead. Saibari narrowly missed a second in the 10th minute when Azzedine Ounahi played a cross off the left wing. Saibari couldn’t make clean contact in front, put off a bit by Scotland defender Andy Robertson through a late sliding challenge.
Gunn’s deflection on Achraf Hakimi as he cut in off the right wing denied another chance in the 18th minute, and Morocco continued to threaten until Scotland finally found its footing late in the half. One of its few attacks led to a deep cross off the left from Robertson, and John McGinn sliced a volley into the crowd on his weaker right foot. Morocco took its thin advantage to the locker room perhaps expecting it to be more.
“The end result is we’re happy,” Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said via translator. “We wanted three points and we got them. That was the main objective.”
It was a bit more give and take between the two sides in the second half. Scotland had a pair of penalty appeals waved away by referee Ilgiz Tantashev after challenges on McGinn and Scott McTominay. Lyndon Dykes headed wide in the 86th minute off a corner, with a deflected shot from McTominay hitting the side netting to create a following set piece.
Scotland generated a real chance from open play in the 64th minute when Morocco casually attempted to pass its way out of the back. McTominay took possession and fed Ryan Christie, who fired over the crossbar from the top of the box. It was a warning sign for Morocco and the start of what was a strong closing stretch for Scotland.
“We were going into the game wanting to win it, but they’re a top side,” Christie said. “You saw the way they moved the ball. The rotations in the middle of the pitch were tough to defend.”
Morocco was denied on a pair of chances prior to the 53rd minute. Saibari’s shot in front was blocked by Jack Hendry and landed atop the crossbar. The ensuing corner kick from Hakimi saw a Bilal El Khannouss header saved at the near post by Gunn. Morocco ultimately didn’t add that second goal that could have made things more comfortable late.
“We don’t want to make too many mistakes, because otherwise it creates more issues,” Ouahbi said. “In the second half we lacked a little bit of depth, but we had some opportunities and we were pretty good.”
The Scots head to Miami for a meeting with world superpower Brazil to close out group play on Wednesday, June 24, and it’ll need three points to reach the knockout stage.
Morocco will be a heavy favorite against Haiti on Wednesday. That match will be in Atlanta.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Final result between Morocco and Scotland in World Cup matchup
Continue reading...
Ismael Saibari’s second goal of this World Cup was an absolute stunner, and it made the difference in a 1-0 triumph.
Saibari’s right-footed strike rocketed across the penalty area and into the top left corner, leaving Scotland keeper Angus Gunn no chance. Brahim Diaz played provider just as he did for Saibari in Morocco’s opener, a 1-1 draw with Brazil.
Morocco one win from knockout stage
Saibari described the moment as a career highlight, and that comes at the start of a summer where he’s expected to complete a club move to German giants Bayern Munich. His sizzling current form has the surprise semifinalists from 2022 just a win over Haiti away from clinching a return to the knockout stage.
“Playing in the World Cup with your country is a childhood dream – one that has come true,” Saibari said through FIFA's translation program. “And now, scoring two goals for my country, I’m very happy.”
Scotland falls to third spot
Scotland entered this perfect Friday night at Boston Stadium atop the group, thanks to a 1-0 win over Haiti in its opener here. It ended the evening in third place after this result and Brazil steaming to victory over Haiti in Philadelphia, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice in the opening half and Vinicius Junior adding a third. That same side awaits Scotland in its next match, which will come next week in Miami.
“Never planned to start in that sort of manner, and it's really unlike us to do that,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “Normally we’re so defensively sound.”
The sellout crowd of 64,146 fans were barely settled into their seats when Morocco jumped ahead. Saibari narrowly missed a second in the 10th minute when Azzedine Ounahi played a cross off the left wing. Saibari couldn’t make clean contact in front, put off a bit by Scotland defender Andy Robertson through a late sliding challenge.
Gunn’s deflection on Achraf Hakimi as he cut in off the right wing denied another chance in the 18th minute, and Morocco continued to threaten until Scotland finally found its footing late in the half. One of its few attacks led to a deep cross off the left from Robertson, and John McGinn sliced a volley into the crowd on his weaker right foot. Morocco took its thin advantage to the locker room perhaps expecting it to be more.
“The end result is we’re happy,” Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said via translator. “We wanted three points and we got them. That was the main objective.”
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It was a bit more give and take between the two sides in the second half. Scotland had a pair of penalty appeals waved away by referee Ilgiz Tantashev after challenges on McGinn and Scott McTominay. Lyndon Dykes headed wide in the 86th minute off a corner, with a deflected shot from McTominay hitting the side netting to create a following set piece.
Scotland generated a real chance from open play in the 64th minute when Morocco casually attempted to pass its way out of the back. McTominay took possession and fed Ryan Christie, who fired over the crossbar from the top of the box. It was a warning sign for Morocco and the start of what was a strong closing stretch for Scotland.
“We were going into the game wanting to win it, but they’re a top side,” Christie said. “You saw the way they moved the ball. The rotations in the middle of the pitch were tough to defend.”
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Morocco was denied on a pair of chances prior to the 53rd minute. Saibari’s shot in front was blocked by Jack Hendry and landed atop the crossbar. The ensuing corner kick from Hakimi saw a Bilal El Khannouss header saved at the near post by Gunn. Morocco ultimately didn’t add that second goal that could have made things more comfortable late.
“We don’t want to make too many mistakes, because otherwise it creates more issues,” Ouahbi said. “In the second half we lacked a little bit of depth, but we had some opportunities and we were pretty good.”
What's next for Scotland and Morocco?
The Scots head to Miami for a meeting with world superpower Brazil to close out group play on Wednesday, June 24, and it’ll need three points to reach the knockout stage.
Morocco will be a heavy favorite against Haiti on Wednesday. That match will be in Atlanta.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Final result between Morocco and Scotland in World Cup matchup
Continue reading...
