Morocco Stuns Brazil with Early Breakthrough

For much of the first half, the script was flipped. The Atlas Lions, semifinalists in 2022 and arriving with renewed belief, dominated proceedings from the kickoff. Morocco's aggressive press and rapid transitions repeatedly cut through the Brazilian midfield, unsettling Carlo Ancelotti's stars in the 31-degree Celsius heat.
The opening goal arrived in the 21st minute after a calamitous defensive mix-up. Lucas Paqueta lost possession cheaply, allowing Bilal El Khannouss to spring a counter-attack. Brahim Diaz, the former Real Madrid prodigy, slipped a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Ismael Saibari. The PSV Eindhoven midfielder coolly dinked a delicate chip over the onrushing Alisson Becker, sending the Moroccan contingent of the 80,663 crowd into delirium