PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - The Brazilian national team, under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, narrowly escaped a potentially embarrassing defeat in their first outing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A vital second-half strike from star forward Vinicius Junior salvaged a 1-1 draw against a highly energetic Moroccan side in New Jersey.
The match, played at the packed New York New Jersey Stadium, saw the five-time champions struggle significantly, particularly during the opening forty-five minutes. Key Brazilian midfielders, including Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes, appeared overwhelmed by the dynamism of the North African midfield contingent.
Morocco seized the initiative after a moment of brilliance from Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, who dictated play from deep within his own territory. Diaz delivered a sensational, defense-splitting pass directly into the path of Ismael Saibari, who subsequently executed a composed lob over the outstretched arms of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson.
Just as the pressure threatened to overwhelm the Selecao before the interval, Vinicius Junior provided the necessary response to level the score. He received a well-placed pass from Guimaraes near the byline, skillfully bypassed defender Neil El Aynaoui, and fired home past Yassine Bounou from a challenging, tight angle.
This goal marked a significant milestone for the 25-year-old winger, counting as his tenth career goal for the national side in what was his 50th appearance for Brazil. As reported by The Guardian, with Neymar sidelined due to a calf injury following a surprise late call-up, Ancelotti remains heavily reliant on the Real Madrid forward to lead the attack.
Following the halftime assessment, Ancelotti swiftly implemented tactical adjustments, acknowledging shortcomings in his initial setup. Both Casemiro and Roger Ibanez, who had both received yellow cards, were withdrawn for Fabinho and Danilo, aiming to establish a more robust and structured midfield presence.
These strategic substitutions proved effective almost immediately, successfully pushing the Moroccan defensive lines further back toward their own half. Bounou was forced into action shortly thereafter to thwart Brentford striker Igor Thiago, who attempted to score from a quick throw-in opportunity near the goal line.
Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over from Walid Regragui in March, displayed impressive tactical discipline throughout the fixture. Ouahbi has successfully integrated the exceptional 18-year-old talent Ayyoub Bouaddi into the senior squad, handing the teenager his fourth cap after Bouaddi opted to represent the Atlas Lions over France.
Brazil continued to press for a late winner, introducing Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha for the final thirty minutes of play. In the dying moments, Morocco’s management responded by making a triple substitution designed to shore up the defense and secure the hard-earned point on the road.
