Morocco reveals Brazil’s shortcomings but concludes with a draw in the World Cup heavyweight confrontation.

Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in the first heavyweight encounter of the World Cup on Saturday, with the Africans showing their promise while exposing familiar faults in their opponents at a sold-out stadium.

Morocco deservedly took the lead in the first-half through Ismael Saibari before Vinicius Jr produced a moment of brilliance to level the scores and ensure the points were shared in the opening Group C match.

The result leaves the group finely poised until Haiti face Scotland later on Saturday.

For Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, the performance was more proof they can challenge the traditional powers of the game.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side left with questions to answer following a disjointed display in which they were regularly stretched by the pace and movement of their opponents.’I don’t think we started well in the game, the team was a little bit jittery, we lost control too much, lost too many duels. “The first half was not good,” Ancelotti stated, adding his side improved after the interval.It was better in the second half; it’s a tough game because Morocco are a solid side. I guess there was a little amount of nerves. In the first half they were hitting out of our press and creating dangerous attacks.

“Do you ask me if I want to have the same trajectory (as in 2022), no, I want to go beyond the semi-finals this time”, said his Morocco colleague Mohamed Ouahbi.That was one point, but we were hoping for more. “One point is fine & we will get better.”

ENJOY MOROCCO BRIGHT BEGINNING

Morocco enjoyed the superior start, methodically working the ball down the flanks and threatening early on through Achraf Hakimi and Bilal El Khannouss while Brazil attempted to hit on the break.

Morocco routinely sliced through Brazil’s midfield with surprising ease, finding gaps between the lines as teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi demonstrated his skill.

Brazil’s first whiff of a goal came in the 14th minute but Igor Thiago couldn’t make the most of it, fluffing his header.

Seven minutes on and the five-time world champion’s defensive frailties were exposed.

Centre backs Marquinhos and Gabriel were out of position and Lucas Paqueta was robbed in midfield to allow Brahim Diaz to play Saibari through.

Alisson compounded his error with a poor charge off his line and Saibari coolly lobbed the ball over the custodian to put Morocco ahead.

Brazil kept battling against the intensity and organisation of Morocco, but the Africans were unable to parlay their supremacy into further goals.

Instead, it took a moment of brilliance from Vinicius to level the scores for Brazil in the 32nd minute.

Receiving a feed from Bruno Guimaraes on the left outside of the box, he cut inside on his right foot and fired an unstoppable shot into the far top corner.

Brazil were on the brink of the turnaround at the stroke of half-time, but keeper Yassine Bounou was quick to deny Paqueta’s acrobatic scissor kick.

BRAZIL TAKE CONTROL

Midfielder Fabinho and defender Danilo came on for Casemiro and Roger Ibanez, who had a poor first half, and Brazil had greater control in the second half.

Brazil raised the intensity, became more composed and made Morocco defend. But it was not until the 78th minute that they really tested the Moroccan defence when Raphinha met a cross from Vinicius.

Both sides largely avoided risks and the game left the edge. In the closing minutes, Brazil shown a bit of new life, coming near through substitute Matheus Cunha, but they lacked their vintage swagger.

However, both clubs will enjoy their prospects of reaching top of the group and possibly bettering their path in the knockout stages.