Scotland are still searching for the point they need to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history after a 1-0 defeat to Morocco bumped them off top spot in Group C.
The Tartan Army have thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Boston but witnessed a nightmare start as Scotland conceded their fastest-ever World Cup goal, with Ismael Saibari smashing Morocco in front after just 70 seconds.
Saibari hit the bar and goalkeeper Angus Gunn was forced into a reflex save as Steve Clarke’s side survived a spell of pressure following the restart. Scotland then had a late push but, penalty appeals led by Scott McTominay aside, failed to test Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
All is not lost for Scotland, though: thanks to their opening win over Haiti, just one point in their final game would almost certainly be enough to qualify for the knockout stages. Their final opponents? Brazil in Miami on Wednesday night.
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The pertinent challenge was by El Aynaoui on McTominay, waved away by referee Ilgiz Tantashev.
Should Scotland have had a penalty?
Opinions are split among the pundits on whether McTominay going down in the box late warranted a penalty or not.
Roy Keane says: “I don’t think it’s a penalty, he’s looking to go down. It’s a physical game. The referee let a lot go in the game, players were going down which would normally be a free-kick. So the referee had that attitude throughout the game especially in the box.”
FULL-TIME: Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Well, Scotland certainly improved throughout that, and particularly in the final stages of the second half. But a dismal first ‘quarter’ massively let them down, with Ismael Saibari’s rocket of a strike in the first 70 seconds the difference.
The other main talking point will be whether McTominay earned a penalty late in the second half. More to come on that…
FULL-TIME: Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90+7: Ferguson’s delivery is headed clear. The whistle blows and Robertson, furious and on a yellow, protests vociferously. But that’s it.
CHANCE! Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90+6: Drama! Dykes is in space in the box but Riad gets to it first and thumps it behind for one last Scotland corner.
WIDE! Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90+5: The volume goes up as McTominay charges away, but El Mourabet nabs the ball back. Morocco press and Amaimouni’s diagonal strike goes narrowly wide!
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90+4: Dykes lays it off into the box after a mistake by Hakimi but Bouaddi is there smartly to hook clear.
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90+3: Scotland misplace a pass and Amaimouni punishes them, combining with fellow subs Rahimi and Talbi. The latter lets fly a left-footed shot but nods it over.
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘90: More subs: Ralston and Stewart are on for Scotland in place of Patterson and McGinn, while El Mourabet comes on for Ounahi.
Six minutes added on.
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
‘89: A cross finds McTominay, who goes for it on the swivel, but is crowded out by Morocco shirts and he complains vociferously that’s he had his pulled. Bounou leaps to collect, then lies on the ground for a bit, and gets thoroughly booed for time-wasting.
