Brazil and Morocco played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium, with Vinícius Júnior's equalizer canceling out Ismael Saibari's early strike in a World Cup clash that saw both teams create genuine chances.
Brazil dominated possession with 54% of the ball but could not convert their territorial advantage into victory. Morocco's disciplined defending and clinical finishing kept the South American side at bay throughout a competitive encounter.
Morocco struck first in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari fired past Brazil's goalkeeper. The Atlas Lions caught the hosts cold with a well-executed move that left the Brazilian defense scrambling.
Brazil responded quickly to the setback. Vinícius Júnior leveled the score just 11 minutes later in the 32nd minute, showcasing the attacking prowess that has made him a key player for the five-time World Cup winners.
Casemiro received a yellow card in the 37th minute for a reckless challenge. Roger Ibañez followed him into the referee's notebook three minutes later, giving Morocco hope of exploiting Brazil's growing discipline problems.
The first half ended level, with both teams having created legitimate scoring opportunities. Brazil had registered four shots on target compared to Morocco's two, yet neither side could claim a clear advantage heading into the interval.
The second half saw Brazil push harder for a winning goal. They maintained their possession advantage and created more chances, but Morocco's goalkeeper made crucial saves to keep the match level.
Morocco showed resilience throughout the second period. Despite having less of the ball, the North African side remained dangerous on the counter-attack and tested Brazil's backline on several occasions.
Both teams ended with identical expected goals figures of around 1.24-1.28, suggesting the draw was a fair reflection of the chances created. Brazil attempted 12 shots total with four finding the target, while Morocco managed 12 shots with only two on goal.
Vinícius Júnior earned the highest individual rating of 8.0 for his attacking display and crucial goal. Saibari impressed for Morocco with a 7.7 rating after his opening strike.
Brazil's defense held firm despite conceding early. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães provided solid performances at center-back, while Douglas Santos made seven tackles from left-back to frustrate Morocco's right-wing attacks.
This draw leaves both teams with work to do in their World Cup campaign. Brazil will look to convert their possession into wins in upcoming matches, while Morocco proved they can compete with elite opposition.
