Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the international friendly tie between Morocco and Brazil, happening at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier, Morocco. This is Mayank bringing you all the updates.
Keeper Bono kicks the ball away as the referee blows full-time, and with this, the World Cup semifinalist ends its five-game losing streak by defeating five-time World Champions Brazil 2-1.
MAR 2-1 BRA
Moments away from the last whistle. Morocco has committed numbers on defence to avoid any last-second causality.
Morocco has almost sealed the game as only 100 seconds are left in the game and the intensity has dropped for Brazil.
Substitution for Brazil: Arthur makes his debut and replaces injured Emerson.
Emerson and Amrabat are both injured and will need to get medical attention.
We are near the end of regulation time and a total of five extra minutes have been added here.
The game is still wide-open as Brazil is winning the ball in the mid-field but the problem comes when Morocco counter-attacks.
Substitution for Brazil: Yuri Alberto in for Brazil as Paqueta ends his shift for the night.
Brazil looks desperate for a goal as Casemiro’s side is now numbered up in Morocco’s half.
GOALLLLLLLLL! This is brilliant stuff from Morocco as they score the second goal to get into the lead. The host team salvaged a deserved second goal with constant high press. This time it is the super sub SABIRI!! Cheddira assists and puts his name in the scoring sheet within two mins.
MAR 2-1 BRA
Substitution for Morocco: En Neysri and Boufal off with Abde and Cheddira coming in.
Morocco looks charged up after the break as they are on the attack here from the left wing.
More changes coming up for Morocco as we lead for a drink break.
GOALLLLLLLL! Brazil gets an equaliser. Pin-drop silence at Ibn Battuta stadium here. An easy pass from Lucas Paqueta to Casemiro and he hits on the target. Captain Casemiro leads the way for the visitors here. A mistake from Bono as the ball went past him while he was trying to save the ball with a dive.
MAR 1-1 BRA
A couple of substitutions for Morocco as well. Bilal El Khannous and Ounahi off with Sabiri and Louza on.
Three changes for Brazil: Anthony, debutants Viega and Vitor Roque came in for Rony, Rodrygo and Andre.
Ramon Menezes is preparing for substituions. We can see few changes for Brazil pretty soon.
Brazil is holding the ball and keeps Morroco under pressure with the constant attack.s Another corner for Brazil, Paqueta takes it but the ball goes out of play.
Corner for Brazil, Rodrygo takes it, timely clearance by the Moroccan defence.
Vini Jr on the run and passes to Rony but he could not control the ball this time in the final third.
A challenge on Amrabat from Rony will get him a yellow card.
A first substitution from coach Walid Regragui as Ashraf Hakimi will finish his shift for the day and number 25 - Yahia Attiyat Allah replaces him.
Morocco continues to attack Brazil with a tight press. Amrabat passes the ball to Boufal who, this time fails to convert. However, Morocco, in front of a jam-packed stadium is leaving no stone untouched to create enormous pressure on the five-time world champions.
A cracking shot by Hakim Ziyech but he could not keep the ball on target as Morocco starts pressing hard at the start of the second half.
A tough challenge on Azzedine Ounahi as he finds himself on the ground.
Brazil start the proceedings in the second half.
- Possession: MAR 51% - 49% BRA
- Total Shots: MAR 5-6 BRA
- Shots on target: MAR 2-2 BRA
- Corners: MAR 0-1 BRA
- Offsides: MAR 0-1 BRA
- Fouls: MAR 9-9 BRA
Boufal goal in the 29th minute keeps Morocco ahead in the game as Brazil is doing the chasing work here. But, Morocco should not be complacent as Brazil has all the capabilities to make a comeback in the second half.
A yellow card for Sofiyan Amrabat as he hits Vini Jr near half-time. There seems some tension between the two players as the other teammates come in between to handle the situation.
Two extra minutes are to be added in the first half as we are nearing half-time. Brazil is trying its best to make a quick run but the solid midfield consisting of Amrabat Ounahi and El Khannouss is denying any possible chance for Brazil.
An unnecessary tackle by Bilal El Khannouss on the Brazilian player as the referee came and gives him a warning with a yellow card in hand. So, El Khannouss gets the first card in this game.
What a shot from Vinicius Junior, he curled the ball targeting the goal box but missed it by a few inches as he aww-struck the Moroccan defence with his class and his pace.
Free kick for Brazil near the box, compact defending from the defence of Morocco to keep the ball out of danger.
Hakim Zyiiech receives the ball inside the box, another opportunity for the host to score but Ziyech shoots wide this time.
Eder Militao attempts a tough tackle on El Khannouss which resulted in some heat-up moment between the players here and eventually the referee had to come in between.
Boufal.......... GOALLLLLLLLL! Morocco scores first. Boufal is the man! A brilliant finish salvaged a goal this time as the duo of Boufal and En-Nesryi deceived the back-four, resulting in Morocco’s first goal. Bilal passes to Boufal, who receives with his left foot and turns 360 degrees to hit with his right foot to finish a beautiful goal.
MAR 1-0 BRA
Vinicius Junior is making a run for himself as he deceives the back-four and hits the ball straight to the box right next to keeper Bono for a goal. VAR check for the first time, and it is offside. No goal for Brazil.
Morocco’s keeper does enough to deny the first goal to Brazil with a jump near the box.
A cross to change the wings as Mazraoui takes his time to target the box but he too misses it and probably it was the easiest of chances here.
S. Boufal passes the ball through the defence to En-Nesyri but he misses reaching the ball on time as Brazil takes the ball back from Morocco. A slow passage of play here as the ball is mostly kept in the mid-field by both teams.
Possession after 18 mins: Brazil - 57 per cent and Morocco 43 per cent.
Emerson was making a cheeky run but he has been handled well by the Moroccan defence this time.
A brilliant through-ball from Paqueta to Rony but he could not keep the ball in target as Brazil misses a very good chance to get an early goal.
Y.En-Nesyri makes a run for Morocco with a through-ball to Ziyech but Brazil intercepts at the right time as it is time for Vinicius Jr. to salvage something with this possible run. Compact defending by Morocco to take the ball back.
Morocco wins a free-kick near the penalty box. Hakim Ziyech takes the free-kick and attempts to curl the ball directly in the box but an easy safe by Weverton calms things down for Brazil.
A challenge on Ounahi as he is down on the ground but nothing serious as the referee says play-on.