Vinicius Junior rescues Brazil in 1-1 World Cup opener as Morocco expose midfield and fullback gaps
Five-time champions Brazil needed a moment of magic from Vinicius Junior to avoid a first opening-game World Cup defeat since 1934, as Morocco threatened to pull away in a pulsating Group C clash at a sold-out MetLife Stadium.
Morocco's blistering start
An 80,663 crowd in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw the African champions dominate the first half-hour. Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead in the 21st minute, chipping Alisson after a through ball by Brahim Diaz split Brazil's centre-backs. The move began when Roger Ibanez and Lucas Paqueta lost possession on Brazil's right, a flank Morocco repeatedly exploited.
It was a good match, it's a point. We would've hoped to have more but we'll take the point.
Vinicius answers
Brazil equalised 11 minutes later. Vinicius Junior, fed by Bruno Guimaraes on the left, cut inside and rifled a right-footed shot past Yassine Bounou, scoring his 10th international goal. It was Brazil's first effort on target, a flash of individual quality that masked a disjointed team performance.
We started on a really bad note. We conceded that first goal. After that it's really hard to get going.
Ancelotti's halftime overhaul
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil's first foreign World Cup coach, replaced Ibanez and the struggling Casemiro with Danilo and Fabinho at the interval. The switch steadied Brazil, who controlled long spells after the break but could not find a winner. Bounou denied a Lucas Paqueta volley late in the first half and an Igor Thiago drive early in the second. Morocco's best late chance fell to Ayoube Amaimouni in stoppage time, but Alisson gathered.
- Kick-off at MetLife Stadium, 80,663 fans, 31°C
- Ismael Saibari chips Alisson to give Morocco a 1-0 lead
- Vinicius Junior equalises with a right-footed strike from the left
- Yassine Bounou saves Lucas Paqueta's acrobatic volley
- Halftime: Ancelotti replaces Ibanez and Casemiro with Danilo and Fabinho
- Bounou stops Igor Thiago's powerful shot
- Full-time: match ends 1-1
Cracks beneath the glamour
Brazil's squad composition drew scrutiny. Ancelotti selected only five midfielders and one specialist right-back, Wesley, who was injured pre-tournament. Instead of a like-for-like replacement, he called up an extra midfielder, leaving centre-back Ibanez to deputise. The experiment failed, and Casemiro's loss of form added to the concern. Alan Shearer called Brazil's showing "ragged", and South American football expert Tim Vickery said the team was saved by a star rather than the system.
I think this was a tough match, especially in the beginning. The team was a bit anxious and nerves were all over the place. You don't win a World Cup based on your first match.
What comes next
Brazil face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday, then close Group C against Scotland in Miami Gardens. Morocco play Scotland in Foxborough the same day before meeting Haiti in Atlanta. Neymar, still recovering from a torn right calf, did not dress for the opener and his return timeline remains unclear. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said the team was proud of the performance and focused on improving game by game.
