Saibari strikes early as Morocco leads Scotland in Boston

Ismael Saibari continued his sensational start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring within the second minute to give Morocco a 1-0 lead over Scotland at the Boston Stadium.

The 25-year-old forward caught the Scottish defense completely cold straight from the kickoff. Capitalizing on an immediate burst into the penalty area, Saibari clinically slotted the ball past goalkeeper Angus Gunn to break the deadlock with just seconds on the clock. The goal was subject to a brief VAR review for a potential infringement during the buildup, but the decision stood, awarding the Atlas Lions a dream start in Massachusetts.

With this lightning-fast opener, Saibari has now netted two goals in his first two games of the tournament, building on his crucial equalizer against powerhouse Brazil in Matchday 1. The PSV Eindhoven star, who was recently named the Eredivisie Player of the Season, has fully justified his manager's tactical gamble. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi reconfigured the team's setup ahead of the tournament, deploying Saibari as a central striker rather than his traditional midfield role.

The tactical shift continues to pay massive dividends as Morocco looks to seize control of Group C. Steve Clarke’s Scotland side, who entered the fixture hoping to build momentum after their opening matches, now face a steep uphill battle to find an equalizer and compose themselves against a relentless Moroccan press.