The party that spilt onto the streets of Boston over the past week was silenced in 70 seconds. Ismael Saibari, the PSV forward courted by Bayern Munich, had fired Morocco ahead with the earliest goal Scotland have ever conceded at a World Cup. Brahim Díaz’s lofted pass deceived Grant Hanley, who appealed in vain for offside as Saibari ghosted in behind him. With a single touch, Saibari finished high beyond Angus Gunn. Men in kilts gulped under the blazing Massachusetts sun.
It could and should have been much worse. Saibari then picked the pocket of Ryan Christie and released Azzedine Ounahi down the left; his pass saw a tumbling Bilal El Khannouss inches from converting at the back post. Scotland froze and were fortunate not to be two down after 16 minutes, as the rampaging Achraf Hakimi almost poked the ball beyond a sprawling Gunn after another delightful Díaz ball dissected Scotland’s cluster of defenders.
“Morocco's Ismael Saibari scored after 70 seconds to beat Scotland 1-0, leaving World Cup knockout hopes hanging on Brazil result.”
Scott McTominay’s penalty appeal, a late cry for a lifeline, was dismissed by referee Ilgiz Tantashev. The Tartan Army, 20,000 strong, had vowed to boogie minutes before kick-off, but the dance floor was cleared in a hurry. Scotland were dreadful in possession and lacked attacking impetus until a stoppage-time flurry not in keeping with anything that had come before – John McGinn miscued from Andy Robertson’s cross.
Steve Clarke had sprung a surprise by deploying Kieran Tierney on the left of a five-man midfield, maintaining a back four rather than the expected five-man defensive line. The widespread assumption had been a five-man defence, but instead Tierney played ahead of Robertson. Scotland had little chance to find their positional bearings when Saibari cracked Morocco in front.
Morocco, ranked 35 places above Scotland and fresh from a World Cup semi-final in Qatar, will feel frustration at only winning by a single goal. They have individual and collective ability to dwarf that of Scotland, but victory by only one leaves the sense of a team failing to make the most of opportunity. They will want to be much more ruthless against Haiti.
For Scotland, history remains within grasp. Avoidance of a comprehensive defeat against Brazil will leave them with at least a fighting chance of becoming the first Scotland team to progress to the knockout phase of a major tournament. Onwards to Miami, for what promises to be quite the spectacle. The value in beating Haiti by a goal or only losing by the same will all be apparent by full-time on Wednesday. The Tartan Army need calculators in hand.