In a match of high physical intensity and no friendly, Paraguay and Morocco tied 0-0 at the Benito Villamarín stadium in Seville, the last one on the FIFA calendar before the World Cup in Qatar in which only the African team will compete.
The Africans, with several of their figures playing in the main European leagues, led by Walid Regragui, could not beat the Guarani, who balanced the actions where the goal could have fallen in favor of either side.
Before the end of the match, the Paraguayan coach, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, was expelled after arguing with the Spanish referee Jesús Manzano.
Morocco was coming off a 2-0 win over Chile in Barcelona, while Paraguay came into the match after a 1-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Vienna last Friday.
In the match, which was an intense process and a great physical display, the South Americans suffered the first 15 minutes with the incursions of Hakimi (PSG) and the free kicks of Ziyech (Chelsea), but they balanced and harassed the Moroccan goal through their skilful strikers Julio Enciso (18 years old) and Derlis González.
Morocco’s clearest move in the first half was wasted by striker Mmaee whose shot – product of a Ziyech free kick – was covered by goalkeeper Antony Silva in association with his center back Gustavo Gómez.
At the beginning of the second stage, Paraguay was close to breaching Bono’s fence by containing a header from midfielder Brian Ojeda after a previous play by Julio Enciso.
– Youth discovery in Paraguay –
The youthful discovery of Barros Schelotto was consolidated in the red-and-white attack in the current tour of the FIFA date, a mixture of skill and daring to face the rival goal, which only lacks the goal to consolidate.
The former Libertad de Asunción youngster, belonging to Brighton in England for 2 months, shot Bono at 48 minutes after a move associated with Miguel Almirón.
The goalkeeper barely deflected the corner and from the shot, the Palmeiras defender, Gustavo Gómez, came with chances, with a header.
From another corner, Junior Alonso missed a great opportunity.
In the reply, Paraguayan goalkeeper Antony Silva saved his team from a deadly shot by Boufal, after a play by Hakimi, clearly the leader of the African World Cup team.
Hakimi had penetrated an apex from right to left, knocking two defenders off him. Boufal’s bombing was soberly contained by Silva.
At 58, Ziyech crashed a ball into Silva’s right post in a long distance shot.
The Moroccan barrage did not stop. At 61, Boufal scored after a pass from Ziyech in an advanced position, charged by the match judge.
At 63, in the reply, Bono took the goal from Almirón by deflecting the ball that was destined for the net to the corner.
The Africans arrived with danger at 79 through Sabbiri. The ball passed within inches of Silva’s right goal.
hro/cl
