Saibari stunner earns Morocco narrow victory over battling Scotland

[p]Unbeaten in 30 matches going into the clash, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] did not take long to open the scoring, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]Brahim Diaz[/a] played in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saibari-ismael/WzSmqNMQ/"]Ismael Saibari[/a].[/p][p]Forced wide by his marker, the soon-to-be [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] striker went for goal from a difficult angle, smashing a stunning effort into the top corner. [/p][p]The lead was nearly doubled a few minutes later, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/christie-ryan/hWTaBxeh/"]Ryan Christie[/a] was caught on the ball. However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a]’s cross just missed two of his teammates.[/p][p]The Atlas Lions continued to look the more dangerous team, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a] keeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gunn-angus/zaREt4aJ/"]Angus Gunn[/a] was called into action 18 minutes in. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a] stuck a foot out to put the ball towards goal, but Gunn was able to make the save.[/p][p]Morocco kept the pressure coming, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/el-khannous-bilal/Ui6gj3Cl/"]Bilal El Khannouss[/a] was fed in with a chance to score after a coming together in the midfield. However, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vfb-stuttgart/nJQmYp1B/"]Stuttgart[/a] man could not keep his shot down, skying his attempt instead after it took a nasty bobble. [/p][p]The Scots only managed one meaningful attack in the first half, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robertson-andrew/6e7Be9VI/"]Andy Robertson[/a] marauded forward and tried to find [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcginn-john/rgGnzD2e/"]John McGinn[/a] on the other wing. While he did pick out the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] captain, the angle was too tight, as McGinn failed to properly connect with the ball. [/p][image alt="Scotland - Morocco match momentum" id="19babe0a-e419-46b9-b174-54c52c7aa006" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="9599dea0-5b72-4e13-a7b2-3fdc41d7670c" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Scotland started the brighter of the two teams in the second half as they pushed for an equaliser. They wanted a penalty when McGinn was bundled over by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/el-aynaoui-neil/f3mqZ2x6/"]Neil El Aynaoui[/a]. Morocco soon regained control, and Saibari was unlucky to not to score a second when his shot was deflected off the bar and stayed out.[/p][p]El Khannouss then got his head on a corner, forcing an important save by Gunn. Later on, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mctominay-scott/A7S3y397/"]Scott McTominay[/a] got forward and had an effort blocked while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/talbi-chemsdine/Ayswm5ri/"]Chemsdine Talbi[/a] had a chance to add a second in stoppage time, but could only put his effort over the bar.[/p][p]Despite going forward a bit more often, the Tartan Army seldom registered a shot on target throughout the match, failing to test Bono in the Moroccan net. They drop to second spot in Group D, and could slip to third should [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a], who they face next Wednesday, win later on.[/p][p]As for Morocco, they will claim top place for the time being, and are in a strong position to advance. Next for the Atlas Lions will be [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a], also next Wednesday.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]Brahim Diaz[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/morocco-IDKYO3R8/scotland-fZRU25WH/summary/stats/?mid=nRafcAyG"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]