After their opening victory against Argentina, Morocco’s football Olympic Team lost 2-1 to Ukraine on Saturday at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium.
The game started on a fierce note, with both teams struggling to dominate possession. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi tried to find the back of the net with a couple of attempts, including a powerful long-range free kick that sailed into the stands.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s tactics focused on patience and possession-based football, aiming to break down Morocco’s defenses with long stretches of ball control.
By the 16th minute, Ukraine was controlling the pace, showcasing their ability to dominate possession and create opportunities, while Morocco countered with quick breaks and pressing from midfield.
In the 22nd minute, Ukraine took the lead with a well-executed goal by Danylo Kryskiv, assisted by an incisive diagonal pass from Bragaru.
In the 26th minute, the game came to a halt as Moroccan player Soufiane Rahimi received medical attention following a heavy collision. The match paused briefly while medical staff attended to Rahimi, who was later reported to be in stable condition.
Morocco struggled to break down Ukraine’s defense, with El Azzouzi making a block against Sikan in the 34th minute.
The second half saw Morocco pressing for an equalizer, and in the 50th minute, they showed more attacking intent.
In the 60th minute, Morocco was awarded a penalty after Salyuk fouled Rahimi inside the box. The referee reviewed the play with VAR confirming the penalty and issuing a red card to Salyuk, leaving Ukraine one man down.
In the 64th minute, Rahimi scored from a cross-shot to level the score, marking his third personal goal in the tournament.
The match remained tightly contested, with each team fighting for a crucial quarterfinal spot. Ezzalzouli tested Ukraine’s goalkeeper Fesyun with a free kick in the 74th minute, which was pushed to the corner.
Morocco remained aggressive, creating multiple opportunities to take the lead. The 78th minute saw the Atlas Lions pushing hard for a decisive goal.
However, Danylo Krasnopir scored the second goal for Ukraine in the 90+8th minute, securing victory for his team.
In the other Group B game, Argentina bested Irak 3-1. All the group teams have now three points each, making it hard to predict which squad will make it to the second round.