As the first team in Africa and the Arab world to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, Morocco made a surprise appearance. After the World Cup in Qatar, the team presented a bigger surprise after taking the field for the first time. Morocco beat five-time world champions Brazil 2-1 in an international friendly in Tangier on Saturday night. They became only the second African team to beat Brazil.
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It was the Selecao's first match since Qatar's World Cup quarter-final exit. Neymar and Thiago Silva are not in the team due to injury. Brazil's interim coach, Ramon Menezes, fielded a new-look team that dropped a few other stars. Five youngsters have made their international debut. The Brazilian team commemorated the king of football at the start of the first match after the death of the legendary Pele.
Pele's name was on the back of everyone's jersey. But neither occasion could excite the Latin superpowers. Morocco has played faster football than Brazil at home since the beginning. In the 26th minute, Vinicius Junior's goal was disallowed for offside and three minutes later, Morocco counter-attacked. Sofian Boufal dodged two defenders to find the net after receiving the ball from Biler El Khanous.
Captain Casemiro equalized Brazil in the 67th minute. That too thanks to a mistake by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bounu. Casemiro's shot from outside the box was well within reach of Bunu. But the ball went under his body into the net. Morocco's attacking edge increased with the goal.
The hosts also got the winning goal in the 79th minute. A bullet speed half volley from Waleed Chedira's pass to the Selecao's dismay was scored by Abdel Hamid Sabiri.
At the end of the match, Brazilian captain Casemiro put the responsibility of the loss on the shoulders of the referee, 'We are trying our best with new coaches and new players. Trying to create a new type. I think we played well. With respect to everyone, if you talk about the biggest problem in this match, it was the refereeing. Even though Brazil failed, Germany, who were eliminated from the group stage for two consecutive World Cups, painted their new beginning with victory. The four-time world champions beat Peru 2-0 in a friendly at home. Niklas Fulkrug scored both goals.
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