A stunning equaliser from Vinicius Jr rescued Brazil from an opening defeat as they drew 1-1 with Morocco in their Group C World Cup clash at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Real Madrid forward, described as firing home a 'lightning bolt' of a strike, levelled the scores after Morocco had taken an early lead, ensuring the five-time champions started their campaign with a point rather than a loss.
The match, played before a packed crowd at the home of the NFL's New York Giants, kicked off at 11pm BST, with BBC One broadcasting live coverage from 10:30pm. Fans in the US watched at 6pm ET. Brazil, seeking their first World Cup title since 2002, were expected to dominate but found themselves behind against a disciplined Moroccan side that threatened to cause an upset.
“Vinicius Jr scores 'lightning bolt' equaliser as Brazil draw 1-1 with Morocco in World Cup Group C opener.”
The equaliser came from Vinicius Jr, whose powerful effort gave the Moroccan goalkeeper no chance. The goal was met with relief by the Brazilian fans in attendance and sparked celebrations among those watching back home in the early hours.
Brazil's performance was far from their fluent best, but the point keeps them in contention in a group that also features Haiti and Scotland. Haiti face Scotland later in the round at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with kick-off at 2am BST on Sunday, broadcast on BBC One from 1:10am. Earlier on Saturday, Group C action began with Qatar taking on Switzerland at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, at 8pm BST on ITV1.
For Brazil, the focus now shifts to their next group game, as they look to build on the momentum of Vinicius Jr's moment of magic.