Scotland faced an uphill battle just 70 seconds into the match when Ismael Saibari netted for Morocco, putting the highly-regarded team ahead. Under the intense Massachusetts sun, the Scottish players appeared rattled. In hindsight, Scotland might have accepted this outcome even before the game commenced. Avoiding a significant defeat against Brazil could still provide them with a glimmer of hope to become the first Scottish side to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament.
While this scenario is challenging, it remains a possibility for Steve Clarke and his squad. They now look ahead to Miami, where an exciting encounter awaits. The importance of defeating Haiti or limiting their loss in this match will become clear by the conclusion of Wednesday’s game. The Tartan Army may find themselves calculating potential outcomes.
Despite securing four points from six, Morocco may still feel frustrated with their performance. Their individual and collective talent often overshadowed Scotland, yet winning by just a single goal leaves a lingering sense of missed opportunities. They will aim to be more decisive against Haiti.
At halftime, the Scots could take solace in the fact that they were only down by a goal. There were alarming echoes of their Euro 2024 opener, where they found themselves 3-0 down to Germany in the first half. Similarly, Clarke’s team appeared tense and disorganized. Players in navy uniforms seemed taken aback by the aggressive play from their opponents. Scotland struggled with possession and lacked offensive urgency until a late surge that was inconsistent with their earlier performance. John McGinn had a chance but misfired from a cross by Andy Robertson.
Clarke surprised many by deploying Kieran Tierney on the left side of a five-man midfield, contrary to expectations that he would opt for a five-man defense. Instead, he maintained four defenders with Tierney positioned ahead of Robertson.
Scotland had little time to adapt when Saibari struck first for Morocco. A lofted pass from Braham Díaz caught Grant Hanley off guard, who appealed for offside as Saibari slipped past him. With one touch, Saibari sent the ball soaring into the net beyond Angus Gunn, leaving the Scots in shock.
Things could have worsened for Clarke’s side before halftime. His players struggled to keep up with Morocco’s swift and menacing play. After Ryan Christie was easily dispossessed, Azzedine Ounahi delivered a brilliant cross that evaded both Díaz and Saibari.
Gunn showcased his reflexes by denying Achraf Hakimi, who had confused the Scottish defense with a clever run. Both Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss wasted chances by shooting over the bar. Despite being the better team, Morocco’s narrow lead kept Scottish hopes alive.
The second half saw Scotland start with more composure. They called for a penalty when McGinn fell under Neil El Aynaoui’s challenge, though any such decision would have been dubious. Morocco quickly retaliated, with Jack Hendry deflecting Saibari’s shot onto the crossbar, followed by Gunn saving a header from El Khannouss.
After Tierney sustained an injury, Ben Gannon-Doak replaced him in the 60th minute. While the change was necessary, Clarke likely would have turned to the Bournemouth forward anyway. It was Christie, however, who posed a threat after receiving a pass from the previously quiet Scott McTominay. By the final hydration break, the game had settled. Morocco, typically not high scorers, struggled to capitalize on their dominance. Scotland, still in contention, appeared uninspired. This was not a classic World Cup match.
Díaz hesitated with the ball while Saibari stood ready within yards of the Scotland goal. This final ball issue had cost Morocco on numerous occasions.
Scotland appealed again for a penalty after McTominay stumbled while trying to evade El Aynaoui, but the referee’s decision to dismiss the claim was justified. In the closing moments, Scotland pressed forward. McTominay’s shot was deflected into the side-netting with just five minutes of regulation left. It was evident that Scotland’s performance improved as McTominay grew more influential in the match.
Morocco, while adept at counterattacking, appeared uneasy as Scotland shifted to a more direct playing style toward the end. With seconds on the clock, the Scots earned a corner. The ball was cleared at the near post. Next up for Scotland: Brazil.
