FIFA World Cup
Vinicius Jr saved Brazil from a shocking defeat in their opening World Cup match, scoring a stunning solo goal to secure a draw against Morocco at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. This marked the first time since 1934 that Brazil had not won their opening match in the tournament.
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Brazil found themselves trailing in the 21st minute after Ismael Saibari skillfully lifted the ball over Alisson Becker from outside the penalty area, capitalizing on a miscommunication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos.
This was Morocco’s first goal against South American opposition in World Cup history, having previously failed to score against Peru in 1970 and Brazil in 1998.
Morocco continued to press, and by the 30th minute had registered 12 shots— the most Brazil has faced in a World Cup match since their game against Mexico in 2018.
But Brazil leveled the score just 13 minutes before halftime when Vinicius capitalized on a pass from Bruno Guimaraes, making his way into the box and unleashing a powerful shot past Yassine Bounou.
In a thrilling moment just before the halftime whistle, Lucas Paqueta nearly sent Brazil ahead with an acrobatic shot, but it was deflected for a corner.
With several legends from Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad, including Ronaldo, Kaka, and Roberto Carlos, in attendance, Brazil began to show improvement after the break.
Despite fewer chances for both sides, Raphinha came close to putting Brazil ahead with a narrow miss on a low-driven cross from Guimaraes.
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This draw extends Morocco’s quest for a victory in their World Cup opening match, while Brazil maintains its remarkable 92-year streak of unbeaten starts in the tournament.
Vinicius Jr. Will Be Key to Brazil’s Success
While Brazil made history last night, their lackluster performance is unlikely to be memorable. The last time Brazil played a World Cup match on U.S. soil was equally unimpressive, involving a goalless final against Italy in 1994, which they won on penalties.
Now, 32 years later, Brazil is led by a foreign coach for the first time in the tournament as they aim for their sixth World Cup title since that time.
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If Ancelotti’s goal is to achieve nothing less than a sixth World Cup victory, he would likely be unsatisfied with the display he witnessed at the MetLife Stadium.
Brazil began the match sluggishly, appearing open at the back and failing to match Morocco’s intensity in the sweltering New Jersey heat, resulting in an underwhelming performance that almost jeopardized their impressive unbeaten record in opening World Cup matches.
Fortunately, they were rescued by Vinicius’ individual brilliance—something fans have eagerly anticipated since his debut in 2019.
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It’s unlikely this will be the last glimpse of magic from the talented forward this summer. Should Brazil aim for the final on July 19, Ancelotti may have to lean heavily on the player who was instrumental in Champions League success during their time together at Real Madrid.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Morocco will face Scotland at Boston Stadium on June 19 (23:00 BST), while Brazil will take on Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium on June 20 (01:30 BST).