Vinicius drags low-key Brazil level against dominant Morocco at World Cup

Vinicius Jr’s idiosyncratic efforts assistance Brazil’s conflict successful team’s 2026 tourney opener against Africa champions Morocco.

Vinicius Junior scored a superb equaliser for Brazil successful a 1-1 gully with Morocco arsenic the five-time World Cup winners made an uncertain commencement to the tourney successful New Jersey.

Ismael Saibari ran done to springiness Morocco a 21st-minute pb with a clever scoop successful the Group C opener connected Saturday, but Vinicius produced a infinitesimal of magic to guarantee Brazil came distant with a point.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4Ten observations aft attending a World Cup lucifer successful the US
• list 2 of 4Keepy-up bull wows fans with shot skills astatine World Cup lawsuit successful Boston
• list 3 of 4Oval Office octagon: How Trump turned combat sports into a governmental weapon
• list 4 of 4Fans uncover however overmuch they paid for World Cup tickets

Brazil are chasing a grounds sixth World Cup title, 24 years aft past lifting the trophy, but this show suggests determination is simply a batch of enactment to beryllium done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka were each members of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning squad and were among those successful attendance astatine New York New Jersey Stadium.

Brazil person turned to the hugely palmy Ancelotti successful a bid to extremity the country’s rubric drought. He is the archetypal overseas manager to pb Brazil astatine football’s biggest tournament.

A fifth-placed decorativeness successful South American qualifying underlined the standard of the situation facing Ancelotti. However, the Italian insists Brazil person a squad susceptible of competing with anyone successful the expanded 48-team tournament.

He was without Neymar for the commencement of the competition, with Brazil’s all-time grounds goalscorer inactive recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his state since 2023.

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi urged his players not to fearfulness Brazil, and his connection appeared to resonate arsenic the 2022 semifinalists started brightly successful 1 of the standout matches of the archetypal round.

After Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi threatened the Brazil goal, Saibari made the breakthrough erstwhile helium latched onto a good walk from Brahim Diaz.

The PSV Eindhoven guardant raced beyond Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, holding his nervus with a objective chipped decorativeness implicit the advancing Alisson Becker.

Brazil drew level 11 minutes aboriginal done Vinicius, who volition person a captious relation to play if Brazil are to radiance this summer.

The Real Madrid prima received the shot from Bruno Guimaraes connected the near broadside of the country earlier cutting backmost onto his close ft and hammering into the acold country past Yassine Bounou.

It belatedly breathed beingness into a lacklustre Brazil, and Lucas Paqueta saw his acrobatic effort pushed distant by Bounou earlier half-time.

Bounou saved good from Igor Thiago arsenic Brazil caught Morocco napping with a speedy throw-in aft the break, portion Raphinha and Danilo changeable close astatine Bounou arsenic the Selecao pressed for a winner.

Morocco astir snatched it astatine the decease erstwhile Alisson parried a long-range effort from El Aynaoui and had to respond sharply to artifact the follow-up from Chemsdine Talbi.

Brazil adjacent look outsiders Haiti portion Morocco instrumentality connected Scotland successful their 2nd match.