Morocco suffered a bitter setback in their World Cup opener against Iran on Friday, conceding an own goal in added time after dominating a better part of the game.
The Atlas Lions, who share Group B with Spain and Portugal alongside Team Melli, had a dream start into their opening game in Saint Petersburg after seizing domination right from the blast of the whistle.
However, the North Africans lacked success in front of goal after several attempts, with the Iranians improving in confidence as the game went on.
While it looked as if Herve Renard and his charges would make do with a goalless draw and walk away with a point, they lost the game in added time when Aziz Bouhaddouz deflected a free-kick into own goal to gift Iran all three points.
“There wasn’t even a match between the two sides, because we were superior. But we failed to exploit our goal chances,” Morocco midfielder Younes Belhanda said.
“We didn’t play our best game. Iran had a slim chance and they scored. It is very painful for us, but we have to remobilize. We don’t have any other choice. We know we have a good team that moves and holds that ball. But we have to prove all that against Portugal.”
Morocco will play Portugal next week Wednesday in Moscow
