Scotland 0-1 Morocco: Taremi seizes top spot with fastest goal of World Cup | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Standings provided bySofascore

Ismael Saibari’s lightning-quick second goal of the World Cup proved the difference as Morocco replaced Scotland as leaders of Group C with a dominant 1-0 victory at the New England Stadium.

Saibari’s emphatic finish after just 70 seconds – the fastest goal at the tournament so far – set the tone for an assured half for the Atlas Lions while Steve Clark’s men really struggled to carve out many opportunities in front of goal.

Scotland grew into the game as it reached its dying embers after John McGinn’s penalty shout was dismissed and substitute Lyndon Dykes forced a last-minute corner, but his team couldn’t convert from as the African side grabbed a first win over their World Cup campaign.

As it happened

Morocco made it clear they took their opponents seriously in an instant, when Real Madrid teenager Brahim Díaz spotted the early run of Saibri before the striker lashed it into the top left corner from a tight angle to the right of goal.

The Scottish defence was caught out too high and had their work cut out if they were to give themselves the best chance of making it out of their group for the first time at the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn made a great intervention to sweep the ball away from the feet of Achraf Hakimi making a trademark inverted run in behind the back line and into a scoring position, with Morocco eager to double their advantage.

It would nearly come to be following a neat one-two between Saibari and Díaz, only for Neil El Aynaoui to lift the cutback well over the crossbar before Bilal El Khannouss did much the same four minutes after the half-hour mark.

Scotland were well and truly up against it and looked the most threatening they had all half in added time, when John McGinn broke through the middle after a good advantage, but Kieran Tierney saw his shot well blocked from Che Adams’ reverse pass.

Saibari went close to his second with his deflected effort looping over with the help of the crossbar, after a brilliant run down the left wing by El Khannouss whose free header at the near post was kept out well by Gunn following Hakimi’s out-swinging corner.

Scotland were slowly finding their feet with just over an hour played as Ryan Christie was picked out by Scott McTominay on the edge of the penalty area, but the Bournemouth midfielder couldn’t keep his shot down.

McGinn had a shout for a penalty as time slowly ticked away, managing to wriggle around his marker and into the box on the break, but the referee waived away his protests.

McTominay would link up well with second half substitute Ben Gannon-Doak, the right winger slotting him in behind on the right but the Napoli man found the side netting before his next shot on the turn looped into the arms of Yassine Bounou.

Scotland caused concern for Morocco with a last-minute set piece, but the Atlas Lions defended it well to go top of Group C on four points from their opening two group stage matches and they will back themselves to cruise past Haiti next Wednesday at 23:00 (BST).

As for Scotland, a meeting with Brazil – the team ranked first in the world by FIFA – awaits them on the same day, though might not be hard pressed for a victory since third place could see them progress out of their group for the very first time.

Scotland analysis: Clark caught in two minds over team selection?

Scotland manager Steve Clark made three changes to his side that edged past Haiti 1-0 in a nervy first World Cup victory in 36 long years.

Those players were Nathan Patterson, Ryan Christie, and most notably Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney being put higher up the pitch in the role of left midfielder.

Ben Gannon-Doak had impressed against the Haitians on the Tartan Army’s grand return, yet the former Arsenal man was given the nod ahead of him in a more defensive 4-1-4-1 formation compared to their use of two strikers in their last outing.

Scotland suffered the worst possible start and then made up very little ground as the game went on, though they did grow in confidence and began working it quicker into the final third as the game went into the last half an hour.

Tierney, whose career has been riddled with injuries over the past few seasons, was forced off for that exact reason on the hour mark. It might have left Gannon-Doak wondering what more he could have done last time out to earn the start ahead of him.

Clark’s decision to draft in a more recognised defender in front of an existing back four was likely made to nullify Achraf Hakimi, who got into very advanced positions just as he did against Brazil and almost slotted home Morocco’s second.

But it also appeared to represent Clark being caught in two minds, a middle ground between caution and ambition – one that Tierney and Scotland simply didn’t prosper from.

Might Scotland have benefitted from starting a more ambitious starting line-up? Given their improvement in the second half, it’s more than possible – yet whether Clark will commit to it against Brazil is a whole other question.

Morocco analysis: Saibari continues fine form in first World Cup

It’s been quite the start to a first ever World Cup tournament for Ismael Saibari.

Morocco had managed to enter into this year’s finals having retained the core of their team that became the first from Africa to ever reach the semi-finals, including captain Achraf Hakimi and towering goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

But it was Youssef En-Nesyri, who now plays for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, that rose highest to power home the winning goal with a header that’s become so iconic for Moroccan fans.

En-Nesyri didn’t receive the call up for the tournament, but it’s safe to say, that Saibari had big shoes to fill stepping into the tournament.

The 25-year-old is doing just that, striking the ball with such confidence that his effort gave Angus Gunn simply no chance of parrying – a brilliant second to add to his memorable lob over Alisson to give Morocco the lead in their draw with Brazil.

Saibari ended the league season with 15 goals and eight assists for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredevisie, and is carrying over his form into football’s biggest tournament so seamlessly that it looks like he’s been here before.

Morocco have found their main attacking threat, and it won’t be a surprise to see him in the goals going forward.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

Scotland – Morocco Live Score