Morocco vs Brazil score, result, highlights, as Sabiri goal lifts World ...
Morocco continued to ride the wave of their historic 2022 World Cup semifinal run, beating Brazil 2-1 in Tangiers in an international friendly on March 25.
The winning goal came with about 10 minutes remaining, as substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri roofed a loose ball in the Brazil box and the Atlas Lions' defense did the rest to see out a deserved result.
The Moroccan team took the lead on a well-executed attack that was finished with a classy, spinning move in the box by Sofiane Boufal. But an uncharacteristic mistake by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou on a shot by Casemiro saw Brazil equalize 1-1 in the second half.
Morocco were simply sharper, more aggressive, intense, and direct compared to their South American opponents. They were fueled by a capacity crowd that created a memorable environment for the first match played after the fourth-place finish in Qatar.
Brazil were missing several injured players and they were clearly not at their best, but they did get a fair number of chances. However, their front three struggled to convert, and Bounou came up with timely saves as he did throughout their World Cup run. They also had a goal called back for a Vinicius Jr. offside infraction.
The result perhaps shouldn't come as a complete surprise since the Atlas Lions went farther than Brazil at the World Cup. The Brazilian side were surprisingly knocked out at the quarterfinal stage on penalties, while Morocco became the first African team to reach the semis, where the Atlas Lions fell to France in a tight contest.
Brazil head coach Tite departed after the World Cup, and the Selecao had an interim in charge in Morocco with Under-20 national team coach Ramon Menezes at the helm. His Moroccan counterpart ultimately got the upper hand, as Walid Regragui, who was the architect of the historic World Cup run, saw his team continue to perfect their signature playing style, turning biting defense into piercing attacks.
This was the only match that Brazil is playing during this March international window. Meanwhile, the Atlas Lions will face another South American side in Peru on March 28 in Madrid.
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Morocco vs Brazil final score 1H 2H Final Morocco 1 1 2 Brazil 0 1 1Goals:
MOR — Sofiane Boufal (Bilal El Khannouss) — 29th min.
BRA — Casemiro (Lucas Paqueta) — 67th min.
MOR — Abdelhamid Sabiri (Walid Cheddira) — 79th min.
Lineups:
Morocco lineup (4-5-1): 1-Bounou (GK) — 2-Hakimi (25-Attiah Allah, 52'), 5-Aguerd, 6-Saiss (capt.), 3-N. Mazraoui — 7-Ziyech, 8-Ounahi (11-Sabiri, 64'), 4-Amrabat, 23-El Khannouss (13-Louza, 64'), 17-Boufal (16-EZ Abde, 77') — 19-En-Nesyri (21-Cheddira, 77')
Brazil lineup (4-3-3): 12-Weverton (GK) — 2-Emerson Royal (9-Alberto, 92'), 3-Militao, 14-Ibanez, 6-Telles — 8-Andrey Santos (20-Veiga, 64'), 5-Casemiro (capt.), 7-Paqueta — 22-Rony (21-Antony, 64'), 10-Rodrygo (19-Roque, 64'), 11-Vinicius Jr
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Why did Brazil lose vs. Morocco?Perhaps you can blame the lack of a permanent head coach or the absence of several players, but Brazil just weren't as incisive as they usually are. The passes and combinations didn't come easy, and players weren't beating their players 1-on-1 as we're used to seeing from the Selecao. Credit Morocco's intense defending for Brazil's lack of success in those departments.
It didn't help that Brazil's defending in the box was lax in the moments that counted, but the trio up top — Vinicius (left), Rodrygo (center forward), and Rony (right) — also missed on the few chances they did have. And the subs that came on, including Vitor Roque and Antony, failed to make a difference.
This Brazil team is one in transition as it looks to identify a new coach and integrate a handful of new, young players.
Morocco are more than just defenseThe Atlas Lions were one of the best defensive units at the World Cup, but their attacking ability and skill sometimes gets short shrift because of the concentration on the clean sheets. But Morocco's players showed they can ball with the Brazilians.
Morocco manager Walid Regragui lined up some of his most skillful players in midfield with El Khannouss and Azzedine Ounahi bringing their talents to bear on the game, as Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal also oozed quality. It's no wonder that they looked dangerous on ever transition that ran through those four players.
Check out this Ounahi highlight reel from the match:
— TFT MOROCCO (@TFT_Morocco) March 26, 2023 Morocco vs Brazil live updates, highlights from friendly Final: Morocco 2-1 Brazil — Le360 (@Le360fr) March 26, 202385th min.: Fans are sensing the win is close and they are chanting "Ole" with every touch by the Morocco team.
79th min.: Goal Morocco! It's the two subs combining. Sabiri gets it after a cross was touched by Cheddira. Morocco go back up 2-1.
— Vídeos de Gols (@vdsgols) March 25, 2023militão mais perdido que o vitor pereira no flamengo pic.twitter.com/T5uelBKXCV
— Goleada da Zoeira (@goleadadazoeira) March 25, 202377th min.: SUBS Morocco. It's Cheddira and EZ Abde who come on for En Nesyri and Boufal. Fresh legs for the Morocco attack to see if they can nick one more goal and take home a memorable victory.
73rd min.: Hydration break and the teams take advantage to huddle up at the benches and talk about how they're going to approach the final 15 minutes.
67th min.: Goal Brazil! Casemiro takes a shot from the top of the box and it's a blunder by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who lets it slip underneath him.
— Diário de Gols, infos e Stats (@DiarioGols) March 25, 2023Que frangaço do Bounou... #SeleçãoBrasileiraNaESPN pic.twitter.com/kEggHS3b6t
— SportsCenter Brasil (@SportsCenterBR) March 25, 202364th min.: SUBS for Brazil and Morocco. Antony, Vitor Roque, and Raphael Veiga are on for Rony, Rodrygo, and Andrey Santos.
Morocco bring on Imran Louza and Abdelhamid Sabiri for El Khannouss and Ounahi.
➡ Entram Vitor Roque, Veiga e Antony no Brasil
⬅ Saem Rony, Rodrygo e Andrey Santos#SeleçãoBrasileiraNaESPN pic.twitter.com/bBjbjLfvOG
57th & 59th min.: Chances Brazil! Two more opportunities. But Vinicius sends a low driven cross that runs through the six-yard box. And then on a corner kick, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stops a Lucas Paqueta shot at the far post.
52nd min.: SUB Morocco. Achraf Hakimi gets the ovation with Yahia Attiat Allah coming in. He'll play at left-back while Noussair Mazraoui moves from left-back to right-back.
48th min.: Chance Brazil! What a save by Morocco's Yassine Bounou! He denies Rodrygo on a beautiful volley attempt with a sensational stop. Nothing comes of the corner kick for Brazil.
46th min.: Second half is underway. No changes from either team from what we can tell.
The triangles and third-man movement between Hakimi, Ounahi and Ziyech are giving Brazil massive problems, as it did to every opponent in Qatar.
Morocco's greatest attacking weapon. pic.twitter.com/FlyfTmZc4U
Halftime: Morocco have the shock lead over a Brazil team that has two new starters in Andrey Santos (right center-mid) and Rony (right wing). The home team look like a team that is still riding the momentum from the World Cup and playing in a similar fashion. They are more intense, direct and generally sharper.
Morocco are comfortable in their play, waiting for Brazil, going hard to win the ball back, and then launching quick counters after they win the ball. These moments are causing problems for Brazil because of the skill and dribbling ability of the Morocco attackers.
Brazil still created chances, but poor finishing from their front three (Vinicius, Rony and Rodrygo), a great double save by Yassine Bounou, and an offside call kept them off the board. The Selecao will continue to be dangerous in the second half.
47th min.: YELLOW card to Sofyan Amrabat for an ugly scissors tackle on Vinicius. He was lucky to get away with only a yellow card.
46th min.: Chance Morocco! Another sensational transition attack, and Sofiane Boufal is wide open, but he whiffs on his first-time shot just outside the box. If he made good contact on that, it could've been a second.
42nd min.: YELLOW card to El Khannouss. It's a good decision. The Genk man delivered a pretty wild foul on debutant Andrey Santos in midfield. Rodrygo takes the free kick but he just misses his teammates in the box.
41st min.: This has been an entertaining match. In a matter of a couple of minutes, first it was Azzedine Ounahi on one end, and then Vinicius on the other, who just miss the top corner. It's an even match, but Morocco is looking sharper.
35th min.: Chance Brazil! A Casemiro diagonal ball into the box is headed down by Rony to Rodrygo, but his first-time shot is high of the target. His head is in his hands -- he knows he could've done better there.
Ajeitada de Rony pro Rodrygo, isolou pic.twitter.com/vSTKHzP2ZY
— Diário de Gols, infos e Stats (@DiarioGols) March 25, 202329th min.: Goal Morocco! It's Sofiane Boufal who scores it. The Moroccans swarm Emerson Royal, take the ball and in two passes Boufal spins and shoots to beat Weverton. An excellent play from the home side, turning good defending to attack.
— Curiosidades Brasil (@CuriosidadesBRL) March 25, 2023And it's pandemonium in Tangiers:
SOSO MET LE FEUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/7hURi3zqRz
— Amine El Amri (@Amine_Elamri) March 25, 202326th min.: Brazil goal disallowed! It appears to be a good decision from the Tunisian referee. Vinicius Jr was offside on a long ball sent his way. Morocco goalkeeper Bounou came off his line to stop it and Vinicius put home the loose ball.
Salvio Spinola (below) disagrees, but Vinicius is definitely making an attempt to play the ball.
Quando ocorreu o impedimento?
Vini não disputou a bola com o zagueiro.
Zagueiro toca de cabeça para o goleiro, que erra no chute.
Vini não disputa a bola com o goleiro, pega após o erro deliberado do chute.
Pra mim gol legal. pic.twitter.com/JyH3Jlgbty
24th min.: Chance Brazil! Incredible double save by Yassine Bounou. The goal was at the mercy of the Brazilian forwards, but first Bounou blocked a shot and then he got on his feet and grabbed another shot.
ERA SÓ TOCAR NO ANDREY, RONY! pic.twitter.com/MJr0f2UVVT
— Arena Cruzmaltina (@are_cruzmaltina) March 25, 202323rd min.: Chance Morocco! Left-back Noussair Mazraoui pushes all the way up into the attack and collects a diagonal, puts the ball on his right and nearly finds the low far netting. The ball finished just wide.
20th min.: The match is going as you'd imagine. Brazil knocking it around, Morocco comfortable sitting back and waiting to win the ball back and go forward fast. When Morocco have countered, they have been quick, but not accurate.
13th min.: Chance Brazil! Fantastic pass from Paqueta to Rony, who was making a run into the Morocco box. The Palmeiras forward did well to control, but Rony's shot went over the bar. He was challenged by a defender and didn't get a clean shot off.
O passe do Paquetá pro Rony... pic.twitter.com/h8ijUdnpyL
— João quer a volta das tabelas ao Flamengo (@joaoholanda1000) March 25, 202310th min.: Brazil turn the ball over and Morocco go vertical and fast. But Sofiane Boufal cuts it back to Hakim Ziyech, whose shot is blocked. Morocco showing a lot of the same characteristics that made them so difficult to play in Qatar.
6th min.: After a buzzing start from the Moroccans, the game has calmed some with Brazil getting a few more touches. In the attack, it's Rony wide right and Rodrygo operating as the central striker.
1st min.: Morocco kick off. And there's an early foul by Brazil left-back Alex Telles on Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi. Telles fumes at the referee, and the Brazilians already have issues with the Tunisian official.
1 min from kickoff: We're just about ready. The formalities are out of the way. The referee is Sadok Selmi from Tunisia. There's a moment of remembrance for Pele before the match kicks off.
5 mins from kickoff: Teams are back on the field. Time for anthems.
— Izem Anass (@Izemanass) March 25, 2023L'incroyable tifo des supporters marocains ????????????#MARBRA #DimaMaghrib pic.twitter.com/OfWoRxYePl
— Le360 (@Le360fr) March 26, 202310 mins from kickoff: Warmups have wrapped up. The next time we'll see the teams out on the field, it'll be time for anthems.
2 - The game against Morocco is the first in which Brazil have two starters that have never played for the Seleção (Andrey Santos and Rony) since Neto and Éder Militão debutted together in a friendly against El Salvador in September 2018. Novelty. pic.twitter.com/seDsEvdFaa
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) March 25, 202330 mins from kickoff: The teams are warming up right now. The Moroccan team ovation was notably louder from the home crowd.
QUEL ACCUEIL POUR LES JOUEURS MAROCAINS ????????????????
Toute l’équipe a fait un tour d’honneur de la pelouse en applaudissant les supporters. pic.twitter.com/Mu30DFnRYA
???? | لاعبو المنتخب الوطني المغربي في حركات إحمائية#مباريات_دولية_ودية #المنتخب_الوطني_المغربي #البرازيل#طنجة#المغرب #MARBR pic.twitter.com/x79vLZeOFb
— Arryadia TV (@arryadiatv) March 25, 202360 mins from kickoff: Lineups are out. And here's confirmation of the Brazil lineup with Chelsea's 18-year-old midfielder Andrey Santos (on loan with Vasco through June) getting the start in midfield, and Palmeiras forward Rony lining up with Real Madrid duo Vinicius and Rodrygo.
Meanwhile, Morocco are going with a 4-5-1 (or 4-2-3-1) that sees Genk's creative midfielder Bilal El Kahnnouss get the start in the middle. Also, despite all the chatter of not being 100 percent, Achraf Hakimi starts at right-back for Morocco.
Equipe definida! ????????????
O treinador Ramon Menezes escalou a Seleção Brasileira para a partida contra o Marrocos.
???????? x ????????
????Tânger (MAR)
⏰: 19h (BRA)
????: Band, ESPN e no canal do @galvaobueno no YouTube.
Vem jogar junto com a Amarelinha! ???? pic.twitter.com/RUiVbYvf7G
70 mins from kickoff: According to Reuters reporter Fernando Kallas, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has been suffering from stomach problems all week, and Weverton will start instead. Here's the Brazil lineup as reported by ESPN's Gustavo Hofman:
Seleção brasileira escalada para enfrentar Marrocos: Weverton, Emerson Royal, Éder Militão, Roger Ibañez e Alex Telles; Casemiro, Andrey e Lucas Paquetá; Rony, Rodrygo e Vinicius Jr.
— Gustavo Hofman (@gustavohofman) March 25, 2023100 mins from kickoff: The Moroccan players are just arriving at the stadium and this is how the crowd welcomed them with 90 minutes still left until kickoff.
Les joueurs du Maroc font leur entrée sur la pelouse.
Ambiance exceptionnelle à 1h45 du coup d’envoi et alors que le stade n’est rempli qu’à moitié. ???? #MARBRE pic.twitter.com/ewZnh2jSMz
???? | لاعبو المنتخب الوطني المغربي داخل ارضية #ملعب_طنجة pic.twitter.com/ZsZVjFMhFD
— Arryadia TV (@arryadiatv) March 25, 2023Here's the view via drone of the Moroccan team bus arriving at the stadium.
???? | لقطات من الأعلى لوصول حافلة المنتخب الوطني المغربي ل #ملعب_طنجة#مباريات_دولية_ودية #المنتخب_الوطني_المغربي #البرازيل#طنجة#المغرب #MARBR pic.twitter.com/ZDSf6qLpnD
— Arryadia TV (@arryadiatv) March 25, 2023110 mins from kickoff: The stadium is beginning to fill up and we're still close to two hours out from the match.
Le stade commence à se remplir doucement ???????????? pic.twitter.com/YCFXOXMFDc
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) March 25, 2023✅️ La gente ya se encuentro en el Estadio de Tanger ???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/KrAZ5CeO8W
— Futbol Marroqui 212 (@FutbolMarroqui) March 25, 2023And here's the scene just outside the stadium.
Le monde de dingue déjà présent aux abords du stade alors que le match débute dans un peu plus de 3h
Tanger ???? pic.twitter.com/nWTWdpsRTt
120 mins from kickoff: Here's the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangiers, which will host the match between the World Cup semifinalists against the five-time world champions. It goes without saying that the 65,000 tickets were sold out well in advance.
???????????????? | Ready For The match ????⏳ pic.twitter.com/ANBU1vzne2
— Izem Anass (@Izemanass) March 25, 2023 Morocco vs Brazil lineupsRegragui named a 30-man roster for the two matches in the March 2023 window, including 20 World Cup stars like Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and Youssef En-Nesyri. Hakimi will start although his participation was up in the air with reports that he trained separately from the group in the days leading up to the match.
But goalkeeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti is out after picking up an injury in training, and Chadi Riad, Yassine Kechta, and Ibrahim Salah are not listed on the official matchday team sheet.
Morocco lineup (4-5-1): 1-Yassine Bounou (GK) — 2-Achraf Hakimi, 5-Nayef Aguerd, 6-Romain Saiss (capt.), 3-Noussair Mazraoui — 7-Hakim Ziyech, 8-Azzedine Ounahi, 4-Sofyan Amrabat, 23-Bilal El Khannouss, 17-Sofiane Boufal — 19-Youssef En-Nesyri
Morocco subs (15): 12-Munir El Kajoui (GK), 22-Mehdi Benabid (GK), 15-Abdelkebir Abqar, 20-Achraf Dari, 18-Jaward El Yamiq, 25-Yahya Attiah Allah, 26-Ayoub Amraoui, 13-Imran Louza, 24-Benjamin Bouchouari, 11-Abdelhamid Sabiri, 21-Walid Cheddira, 16-EZ Abde, 14-Zakaria Aboukhlal, 10-Anas Zaroury, 9-Abderazzak Hamdallah
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The Brazil lineup features Weverton starting in place of Ederson after the Man City goalkeeper had stomach issues all week. Also, on-loan Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos gets the start as does Palmeiras 27-year-old attacker Rony.
Brazil is without the injured Thiago Silva, Neymar, and Marquinhos, while Liverpool trio Alisson, Fabinho, and Roberto Firmino were not selected in addition to Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes.
Brazil lineup (4-3-3): 12-Weverton (GK) — 2-Emerson Royal, 3-Eder Militao, 14-Roger Ibanez, 6-Alex Telles — 8-Andrey Santos, 5-Casemiro (capt.), 7-Lucas Paqueta — 22-Rony, 10-Rodrygo, 11-Vinicius Jr
Brazil subs (12): 1-Ederson (GK), 23-Mycael (GK), 13-Arthur, 15-Robert Renan, 4-Bremer, 16-Renan Lodi, 17-Andre, 18-Joao Gomes, 20-Raphael Veiga, 21-Antony, 9-Yuri Alberto, 19-Vitor Roque
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Watch Morocco vs Brazil live stream, TV channel Date Time TV channel Streaming Australia Sun, Mar. 26 09:00 AEDT — YouTube Canada Sat, Mar. 25 18:00 EDT — YouTube Hong Kong Sun, Mar. 26 06:00 HKT — YouTube India Sun, Mar. 26 03:30 IST — YouTube Malaysia Sun, Mar. 26 06:00 MYT — YouTube New Zealand Sun, Mar. 26 11:00 NZDT — YouTube Singapore Sun, Mar. 26 06:00 SGT — YouTube UK Sat, Mar. 25 22:00 GMT — bet365 USA Sat, Mar. 25 18:00 EDT — YouTubeThis friendly fixture has limited international broadcast outlets with Galvao Bueno's 'Canal GB' YouTube channel covering the match.
Another Brazilian outlet Band Sports (Bandeirantes) is also broadcasting the match online with viewers required to register to create an account to access the match.
Viaplay are providing live access in eight European countries, including Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Those in the UK with a bet365 account can watch a live stream of the match through the bookmakers' website or app.
Morocco's Arryadia has the match for the local side.
