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06/13 19:15 CDT Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup
opener behind Vincius Jnior goal
Brazil rallies for 1-1 draw against Morocco in its World Cup opener behind
Vincius Jnior goal
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Vincius Jnior scored an equalizing goal in the
32nd minute, giving five-time champion Brazil a 1-1 draw against Morocco on
Saturday in a pulsating, high-profile group match at the World Cup.
A semifinalist four years ago, Morocco dominated early, and Ismael Saibari put
the African champions ahead in the 21st minute.
Brazil evened the score 11 minutes later. Vincius exchanged passes with Bruno
Guimaraes on the left flank, took touches to make space and rifled a
right-footed shot past the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou for his 10th
international goal.
Brazil, seeking its first World Cup title since 2002, entered the tournament
with high expectations and yellow-clad Seleao fans who dominated the crowd of
80,663 at MetLife Stadium became a bit subdued before Vincius evened the score
with his spectacular angled effort.
No. 6 Brazil and seventh-ranked Morocco are the only top 10 teams to meet in
the first round of the expanded 48-nation World Cup tournament.
Despite shaky moments, Brazil managed to extend its unbeaten streak in World
Cup openers to 21, including 17 wins, since a 1934 loss to Spain.
Brazil plays Haiti on Friday in Philadelphia, then closes Group C against
Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco faces Scotland in Foxborough,
Massachusetts, on Friday, then meets Haiti in Atlanta.
Brazil star Neymar, recovering from a torn right calf, didn't dress for the
game.
One hour before the match, an Uber from Times Square to the stadium, site of
next month's final, was $126.95 --- up from $83.95 for advance booking for the
same time Sunday.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian who became Brazil's first foreign World Cup coach,
wore a three-piece suit with a necktie on a sunny afternoon with a 88-degree
Fahrenheit (31-degree Celsius) temperature for the 6 p.m. start.
Morocco went ahead after Lucas Paquet lost control of a short pass from Roger
Ibaez and knocked it off Bilal El Khannouss. It bounced to Noussair Mazraoui,
who sent the ball to Brahim Daz in the center circle.
His through pass split Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinho, and Saibari ran onto
the ball at the top of the arc. Alisson Becker was slow to come off his line
and Saibari chipped the ball over the Brazil goalkeeper for his 10th
international goal.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
