Morocco seized control of Group C with a victory that was effectively sealed before many spectators had found their seats. Ismael Saibari, the PSV Eindhoven forward whose performances are drawing attention from Europe’s biggest clubs, lashed a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Angus Gunn after only 71 seconds at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It was the quickest goal of the tournament to date and Saibari’s second in as many matches, following his strike in the opening draw with Brazil. Brahim Díaz, again the provider, threaded a pass that split the Scottish back line, and Saibari, timing his run to beat the offside trap, controlled the ball before unleashing an angled drive that clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in.

For much of the first half, the Atlas Lions dictated the tempo. Walid Regragui’s side pressed high, held 62 percent possession before the interval, and created a series of chances that should have extended the lead. Achraf Hakimi was denied by Gunn’s foot after a long ball sent him clear, Neil El Aynaoui blazed over from a Díaz cutback, and Bilal El Khannouss fired off target when well placed. Scotland, by contrast, did not muster a shot on target in the entire match. Their only first-half opening came in stoppage time, when Andrew Robertson’s cross found John McGinn at the far post, but the volley was miscued wide.

After the break, Morocco continued to threaten. Saibari saw a deflected effort cannon off the crossbar, and El Khannouss forced a sharp reflex save from Gunn with a near-post header from a corner. Scotland, having introduced Ben Doak and Lyndon Dykes, grew more direct and physical. Scott McTominay went down in the area under a challenge from El Aynaoui, but Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on, a decision that survived a VAR check. Ryan Christie then lifted a shot over the bar after a rare Moroccan giveaway, and in the closing minutes McTominay had a close-range effort blocked before Dykes headed wide from a corner. The equaliser never came.

The result reshapes the group. Morocco, with four points, lead Scotland by one, while Brazil and Haiti were due to meet later in Philadelphia. Scottish commentators noted that their side, having beaten Haiti 1-0 in their opener, now face a daunting final fixture against Brazil in Miami, needing a result to reach the round of 32 for the first time in their history. Moroccan analysts, meanwhile, pointed to the favourable closing match against Haiti in Atlanta as a clear path to the knockout stage. Saibari’s early intervention has left the 2022 semi-finalists on the brink of another deep run.