Saibari put Marokko ahead against Brazilië with a lifted finish over Alisson, only for Vini Jr to drag Brazilië back level before the break. It was the kind of first half that gave the match its edge: one goal for Marokko from Saibari, one equalizer from Vini Jr, and no sense that either side was willing to step back.
That is why Saibari PSV is being searched now. At 23.40 uur, the match was available on VRT1, and the opening spell had already produced the moment people would remember: Saibari hobbled the ball over Alisson to give Marokko the lead. Brazilië were playing without Neymar, but they still found a response through Vini Jr, whose shot into the far corner canceled out the advantage in the same first half.
Saibari did not stop there. After a Hakimi free kick and a Diaz backheel, he had another chance in the box, but Marquinhos blocked it. Bono also had to stay sharp at the other end, turning away a Vini-crossed effort from Paquata and forcing a corner. The match kept moving at pace, with Marokko showing the better football for long stretches and Brazilië relying on moments rather than control.
Discipline also shaped the contest. Casemiro picked up the first Brazilian yellow card after fouling El Aynaoui, while Ibanez later received the second yellow of the match for fouling Brahim Diaz. During hydration time after Marokko went ahead, Ancelotti spoke with Brazilië, a sign that the equalizer had not settled anything on the bench even if it had changed the scoreline on the field.
By halftime, Vincic had ended the first half with the match still level, and that leaves the one question that matters most: whether Saibari’s opening goal will end up being the one that stands out, or only the one that made Marokko’s resistance impossible to ignore.
