Brazil were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup, with Vinicius Junior producing a moment of quality to preserve the South American giants’ long standing record of avoiding defeat in their first game of the tournament.
The five time world champions made a shaky start at the New York New Jersey Stadium and were punished in the 21st minute. A misunderstanding involving goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defenders Gabriel and Marquinhos allowed Ismael Saibari to seize possession before calmly lifting the ball into the net from outside the penalty area.
The strike carried added significance for Morocco, as it marked the first World Cup goal scored by the African champions against South American opposition. In previous meetings with Peru in 1970 and Brazil in 1998, they had failed to find the back of the net.
Morocco continued to dictate proceedings and created numerous opportunities. By the half hour mark, they had attempted 12 shots, the highest number Brazil had faced in a World Cup fixture since their clash with Mexico in 2018. Despite their dominance, Morocco could not extend their advantage.
Brazil found a route back into the contest in the 32nd minute through Vinicius. Celebrating his 50th international appearance, the Real Madrid forward received a pass from Bruno Guimaraes inside the box, shifted onto his stronger foot and fired a powerful effort beyond goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Lucas Paqueta nearly completed the turnaround before halftime, but his spectacular attempt was expertly pushed away. After the interval, Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked more composed and controlled larger periods of possession. However, clear chances remained limited.
Raphinha came closest to delivering a winner when he narrowly missed connecting with a dangerous low cross from Guimaraes. Morocco, meanwhile, remained disciplined and resilient, ensuring they secured a deserved share of the points.
While Brazil extended their remarkable unbeaten run in opening World Cup matches to 92 years, the performance raised several concerns. The team appeared vulnerable defensively and lacked rhythm for much of the encounter.
Ultimately, Vinicius once again proved decisive. His individual brilliance rescued Brazil from a potentially embarrassing defeat, but tougher tests lie ahead. If Ancelotti’s side are serious contenders for a sixth World Cup crown, they will need significant improvement beyond the flashes of magic provided by their star forward.
