Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, gestures to the gang as he celebrates on the pitch after the top of the in the course of the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts— It took Ismael Saibari only 21 minutes to attain a goal for Morocco in his World Cup debut.
Barely a minute was enough time for him to get on the scoreboard in his second outing.
Saibari drilled a shot into the highest corner of the online a mere 72 seconds into Friday’s 1-0 win over Scotland at Gillette Stadium, keeping alive Morocco’s possibilities of advancing to its second straight World Cup knockout round.
“We wanted three points and we got them,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said.
Morocco’s ball movement caught Scotland on its heels on the very start.
Saibari slipped behind two Scotland defenders and Brahim Diaz dropped the ball excessive to him. The 25-year-old forward gathered and blasted it into the highest left corner, well outside the reach of goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, top right, scores his side’s opening goal in the course of the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Morocco, which reached the semifinals on the last World Cup in Qatar, drew 1-1 with Brazil in its Group C opener with Saibari scoring the lone goal. Scotland, which hasn’t gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.
Scotland was outshot 12-6 on Friday, struggling to get clear looks against Morocco’s defense.
The negative result didn’t affect Scotland coach Steve Clarke’s confidence in his team.
“We gave them a game,” Clarke said. “We’re sure we are able to compete at this level.”
Morocco nearly scored one other within the 52nd minute when a header by Bilal El Khannouss off Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick was battled down by Gunn.
Scotland had a probability in first-half stoppage time when Andy Robertson sent a cross at John McGinn, who couldn’t get a foot on it near the back post.
As Scotland pressed for an equalizing goal within the closing minutes, Morocco had a pair of fine probabilities so as to add to their lead, but each missed the goal.
“I assumed the performance didn’t match the result, if I’m honest,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “We took the sport to them. So there are positives from each games that actually we are able to take into this last game.”
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Scotland will face Brazil in its final Group C match on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco will tackle Haiti at the identical time in Atlanta.