Qualification
The national selection qualified for the knockout stages of the World U20 by beating its Brazilian counterpart on the score of 2 goals to 1 Thursday in Santiago, on the second day of group C.
“Our goal is to beat Brazil and qualify for the second round.” National coach Mohamed Ouahbi did not think so well say two days before the shock against Brazil. Finally, everything proved him right. A brilliant victory against the formation that won 5 World Cups in the category and lost four finals. This is to say the whole will of the Atlas lion cubs to mark a white stone of a white stone which suggests an exceptional adventure in Chile.
Thanks to this success, the Moroccan selection qualifies hands down for the round of 16 of the World U20.
Worn by their feat against Spain during the first day (2-0), the Atlas lion cubs tackled the shock against Brazil with a net psychological ascendant. The evening opponent, for his part, had been held in check by a catchy team from Mexico (2-2).
The last confrontation between the two selections at the U20 World Cup dates back to the 2005 edition, during the ranking match for 3rd place (Brazil victory 2-1). Twenty years later, Moroccans returned with new ambitions and a flawless determination.
Yassine Gessime, already sparkling against Roja, was again illustrated by her incessant activity. From the 5th minute, he obtained a free kick at the entrance to the surface, without success. The Brazilians, timid in their beginnings, were trying to react against, but the Moroccan defense, perfectly in place, annihilated all their offensives.
More enterprising, the Moroccans asserted their technicality and their determination to impose themselves. The Brazilians have only shown rare lightnings, struggling in particular in the first period to worry the Moroccan goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch.
In the 19th minute, the latter illustrated by two decisive judgments before seeing Eric Bele’s attempt pass just over the transversal. The Moroccan offensive trio composed of Yassir Zabiri, Othmane Maama and Yassine Gessime multiplied the occasions, but the finish was lacking, between precipitation and opposing interventions. Just before the break, the Brazilian Luighui forced Benchaouch to a new parade on a dangerous head (45th+6).
On the return from the locker room, the scenario was repeated: Brazil was shyly pushed, while Morocco was looking for the opening. The first serious Moroccan alert intervened in the 51st minute, when Maama intercepted a bad recovery and served Gessime, whose shot was brushed the right post. As against Spain, the lion cubs found the fault in the second half. On a perfect center of Gessime, Othmane Maama signed a masterpiece of an unstoppable acrobatic return (60th). Then, in the 76th minute, Zabiri doubled the bet, almost sealing the fate of the meeting. In additional time, Brazilians saved honor thanks to a penalty transformed by Iago Teodoro (90th+2). This second consecutive success, amply deserved, facing two giants of world football – Spain and Brazil – confirms the enormous work undertaken in recent years within the national Moroccan selections, now candidates for the titles of the biggest tournaments.
With 6 points, Morocco hides group C, in front of Mexico (2 pts). Brazil and Spain are walking with a single point.
Previously, Spain and Mexico had neutralized themselves (2-2). As a reminder, the first two of each group, as well as the top four thirds, qualify for the round of 16.
