Ismael Saibari’s goal quiets Scottish fans but makes loud statement for Morocco
FOXBOROUGH — Seventy-one seconds.
That’s all it took for Morocco to take the starch out of Scotland’s kilts Friday evening in Foxborough.
A quick and stunning strike off the foot of midfielder Ismael Saibari proved to be the first real antidote to the sound of Scotland’s mighty Tartan Army, reducing the Scottish fan base inside what is currently known as Boston Stadium to stunned silence. As statements go in the world of soccer, scoring a goal just 71 seconds into a World Cup match counts as quite a loud one, which is precisely how Morocco announced its Boston debut with authority.
“I wish we could start again,” quipped Scotland coach Steve Clarke.
While the standings for Group C remain up in the air, Morocco made a strong move by adding a victory to its opening draw with Brazil, and pushed Scotland back with a loss after the Tartans’ opening win against Haiti. As the group moves toward the crucial, and final, third game, Morocco seems poised to back up its bold claims throughout the tournament’s early days that it has a real shot to win the whole thing. After that opening 1-1 decision in New Jersey, a game in which Saibari also gave his team a 1-0 lead, there was no concession to be given Friday night, not even as those pesky Scots took their bad start and turned it into a pressing brand of desperation that kept Morocco on the defensive.
This time, the Atlas Lions didn’t give in.
“We wanted 3 points and we got them,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. “I believe we were actually very good in the whole match. We controlled it. When you don’t score a second time obviously you have to defend. Based on their very intense style, very long balls, I believe we actually held very well. I was very pleased with the performance.”
While Scotland was busy grabbing every available headline across the greater Boston area, winning over the hearts of residents from the top of Massachusetts to the bottom of Rhode Island with a national brand of unbridled joy and harmless hijinks that did wonders for the local economy, it was often hard to remember there were seven other countries bringing their teams to this ongoing Boston soccer party.
Among them are some of the best individual players in the world — think Norway striker Erling Haaland, England striker Harry Kane, or France striker Kylian Mbappé. And there also are some of the best teams in the world.
Here’s looking at you, Morocco.
The Moroccan story has moved from underdog to dark horse to legitimate contender.
So memorable four years ago for carrying the African banner further than any men’s World Cup team had done before, reaching the semifinals in Qatar, they are poised now to make a run here in the States. Then, four years from now when the World Cup cycle comes around again, they are co-hosting alongside Spain and Portugal. Billed on home soil as an engine of economic growth and an avenue to putting their footprint on the international sports map, Morocco’s accelerated path to success has forced the world to take notice.
Leading the way this year is Saibari, who almost added that much-desired second goal early in the second half when another shot bounced off the goalpost. Just more evidence of why the PSV forward is reportedly headed to Bayern Munich after the World Cup for a transfer fee in the neighborhood of $63 million.
Seventy-one seconds. Fastest one in Moroccan World Cup history.
“It was a beautiful goal,” Ouahbi said.
Yet far from the only weapon Morocco has.
There in the middle of the field is 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, the young star who played so well against Brazil that the entire soccer world was wondering how the French national team let him get away. And there on the attacking defense is captain Achraf Hakimi, who just won a UEFA Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Hakimi, however, is currently embroiled in the French courts, which decided Friday that a rape case against him can proceed, news that left Ouahbi answering repeated questions about whether he spoke to the team or Hakimi himself about it prior to the game. In the grand fashion of the regular NFL games played in the building, the coach sidestepped the question.
“Did you see the game? Hakimi was extraordinary,” Ouahbi said. “He had a very strong game. We were very relaxed. And he was very relaxed. I believe he played really well.”
Pressed again, Ouabhi added, “He wanted to play strongly and that’s what he did. We didn’t have to say anything. We don’t have to say anything. We’re behind him. Hopefully he’s going to show in this World Cup that he’s the best wing in the world.”
On Friday, he wasn’t even his team’s best player. That honor went to Saibari, whose rocket right leg set the tone just 71 seconds in, taking the ball on the right side of the box and somehow sending it sizzling into the far corner, passing Scotland keeper Angus Gunn so fast Gunn barely even knew what happened. A top tier play from a top tier team on a mission to eclipse the tier it reached four years ago. Watch out.
Read more Morocco silences Scotland’s Tartan Army with second-minute tally
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