It was a sweltering hot day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, but that didn't stop 24,902 fans from showing up to watch Norway and Morocco play to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon.
Morocco took the lead in the eighth minute through Brahim Díaz and had several more chances to add to its lead, but Martin Ødegaard converted with just Norway's second shot on target of the game to tie things up in the 75th minute.
It was the final game before the World Cup for both sides, as Morocco will next face Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, June 13, and Norway will face Iraq in Foxborough, Massachusetts the following Tuesday, June 16.
Morocco stifles Haaland, Norway's attack
It's no secret that Norway's game plan heavily involves Erling Haaland, who scored 38 goals in all competitions for Manchester City FC last season.
But due to Morocco's high press, Norway struggled to get the ball to Haaland and create chances for the 6-foot-4 striker. He was limited to just four touches — his fewest in a start for club and country since 2019 — and his lone shot attempt was blocked.
Norway's only good chance at goal came in the 75th minute, when Oscar Bobb dribbled past a Moroccan defender and found an open Ødegaard, who opportunistically buried it past a flat-footed Yassine Bounou to even the score.
"I think we adapted quite well during the game," said Norwegian midfielder Patrick Berg after the match. "In the beginning, Morocco was quite on top of us, especially in the counterattacks; they were really dangerous. But as the game went on, I felt that we adapted more to it, and in the end, I think we could've won the game, but it's fair that it ended in a draw."
After going in front early and dominating, Morocco will feel more hard-done with the draw. Overall, the Atlas Lions put four of their nine shots on target and could have scored more goals, but missed two big chances.
Still, Morocco's defensive work was impressive, holding Haaland to only four touches and limiting Norway to just two shots on target, one of which was their equalizing goal.
Andrew Leigh
Morocco fans show out
It didn't matter if it was 85 degrees outside, 24,902 loud fans made the trip to Harrison to see two strong World Cup sides battle it out.
Before a ball was even kicked, it was obvious that the Morocco fans massively outnumbered the Norway supporters. People wearing Achraf Hakimi jerseys were a common sight, and one supporter even had a flag featuring the Paris Saint-Germain star.
Surprisingly, the Morocco fans weren't the loudest when Díaz scored just eight minutes in. Instead, it was moments before kickoff, when Morocco's national anthem — the Cherifian Anthem — played through the speakers at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Together, the Moroccan fans sang in unison, which made for an amazing spectacle.
Throughout the game, supporters of The Atlas Lions were vocal and loud, making it feel like a home game for Morocco. These fans won't have to travel far, as Morocco's next match will also be in New Jersey, when the World Cup begins at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
