Morocco hold mighty Brazil to historic draw in New Jersey thriller

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: Five-time world champions Brazil narrowly avoided a shock defeat at the FIFA World Cup on Sunday, riding on a moment of individual brilliance from Vinicius Junior to salvage a 1-1 draw against a relentless Moroccan side at MetLife Stadium.

The North Africans put the South American giants under immense pressure in the opening half-hour, threatening to break one of international football’s most enduring streaks. With the hard-fought draw, Brazil preserved their historic 92-year unbeaten record in opening matches of the World Cup, while Morocco left the pitch ruing a missed opportunity to secure a historic powerhouse scalp.

Ismael Saibari capitalised on Alisson’s positioning to loop a long-range shot over the keeper, giving Morocco a 1-0 lead at 21st minute.

Vinicius Junior controlled Bruno Gomes’ assist, beat defenders and fired a powerful strike to level the score at 1-1 at 32nd minute.

Lucas Paqueta’s close-range effort was brilliantly denied by the Moroccan goalkeeper at 45th minute.

Raphinha narrowly missed connecting with a loose cross at the far post. Morocco drew first blood in the 21st minute following a defensive miscommunication by the Seleção. Exploiting a positioning error by Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari unleashed a stunning, lofted long-range shot that sailed perfectly over the keeper and into the back of the net.

The strike marked a historic milestone, registering as the first time Morocco has ever scored a World Cup goal against a South American opponent. Driven by the early momentum, the Atlas Lions dictated the tempo for the first 30 minutes, unleashing a barrage of offensive counter-attacks and outshooting the favorites.

Brazil answered back in the 32nd minute through Vinicius Junior, who marked his landmark 50th international cap with a crucial equalizer. Collecting a precise pass from Bruno Gomes, the Real Madrid winger deftly maneuvered through the Moroccan box, shaking off his markers before drilling a powerful finish past the keeper.

Brazil pushed for a lead just before the half-time whistle when midfielder Lucas Paqueta found space in the box, but his low drive was expertly pushed away by the Moroccan shot-stopper to keep the sides level at the break.

The second half saw both managers adopt a more cautious, tactical approach to avoid a catastrophic defensive error. Brazil’s best chance to claim three points fell to Raphinha, who timed his run perfectly but missed connecting with a dangerous cross across the face of the goal by mere inches.

While Morocco failed to convert their dominant spells into a historic victory, their cohesive and high-press performance cemented their status as formidable contenders in the tournament group.