Ismael Saibari needed barely any time to flip Gillette Stadium on its head. His second-minute strike, set up by Brahim Díaz, proved decisive as Morocco edged Scotland 1-0 in Foxborough on Friday, a bruising World Cup Group C clash that pushed the Atlas Lions to the top of the group and left Scotland chasing the game all night.
The winner came almost straight from kickoff. A threaded pass from Brahim Díaz sliced through Scotland's back line and sent the PSV forward clear, allowing Saibari to steer a right-footed shot past Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the second minute, as shown in Fox Sports. Morocco kept Scotland pinned back for long stretches after that, forcing them deeper and carving out the clearer chances, with the live boxscore listing multiple Morocco attempts before Scotland finally managed their first shot.
Scotland did not register a meaningful effort until the 44th minute and spent much of the night in pursuit of the ball. A Scott McTominay shot was deflected wide by Morocco defender Chadi Riad, and Bilal El Khannouss passed up another good opening later in the half, according to the Boston Herald. Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley were among the Scottish defenders left exposed by Morocco's sharp early movement.
How the result reshapes Group C
With the win, Morocco moved into first place in Group C. Scotland now face an uphill task to secure progression, and they will need a positive result against Brazil in Miami to keep their hopes alive, per RotoWire. The standings remain tight as the group heads into the final round of fixtures.
Scotland's late push came up short
McTominay finally found some joy late on and threatened several times after the 80th minute, but Scotland's late surge could not produce an equalizer. Morocco survived a nervy finish when substitute Soufiane Rahimi helped clear a Scotland corner in stoppage time to protect the slender lead, as recorded by Fox Sports. The match's physical edge and a string of bookings repeatedly cut into Scotland's rhythm just as they tried to build momentum.
Scenes in Boston
The night played out as much as a regional event as it did a World Cup fixture. Large pockets of Scotland supporters, the Tartan Army, made themselves heard across Foxborough and downtown Boston in the build-up, local coverage noted. Inside the stadium, fans paused for applause in the 76th minute for Donny Strathie, who the Boston Herald reports died at age 76 in his Boston hotel earlier in the week.
Both teams are back in action next Thursday. Scotland travel to Miami to face Brazil, while Morocco head to Atlanta to meet Haiti, according to RotoWire. The final group games will decide who advances from this tight Group C.
