'Soon to be Kim Min-jae's teammate,' Moroccan star scores again... Ismaila Sarr's back-to-back goals, Morocco 1-0 thrilling win over Scotland

*This content was translated by AI.

'Moroccan star' Ismaila Sarr (25, PSV Eindhoven) scored consecutive goals in two matches on the world stage.

On the 20th (Korean time), Morocco defeated Scotland 1-0 in the second group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the C Group, held at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, USA.

Earlier, Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil in the first match. By defeating Scotland, they recorded one win and one draw (4 points), increasing their chances of advancing to the round of 32. Meanwhile, Scotland's record became one win and one loss (3 points). Scotland had beaten Haiti 1-0 in the first match but could not overcome Morocco's defense in the second match.

The match-winner was Sarr. Sarr shook the opponent's net just two minutes into the first half. Immediately after the whistle, Morocco launched a quick attack, and Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid) delivered a skillful lobbed pass. Sarr, who successfully penetrated the defense, opened Scotland's goal with a powerful right-footed shot. It was a shot that Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest) could not stop.

Sarr had also scored a spectacular goal in the Brazil match, etching his name into the tournament. At that time, he also received Diaz's pass and scored with a delicate chip shot. With this, Sarr has recorded two goals in this tournament, while Diaz has provided two assists. The duo has emerged as a reliable attacking combination for Morocco.

Sarr is set to become a teammate of South Korean defender Kim Min-jae soon. He is on the verge of transferring to the German powerhouse Bayern Munich. After the Brazil match, UK outlet TalkSport reported, "World Cup star Sarr is close to joining Munich with a transfer fee of 45 million pounds (approximately 91 billion won). He may compete with Harry Kane in the attack." It further added, "Munich is preparing to sign Sarr, and the player has already agreed to personal terms for a five-year contract with Munich."

Sarr is a product of PSV Eindhoven's youth system. His growth trajectory has been steep. After rising to become a key attacking resource for the team, he has consistently accumulated attacking points over the past three seasons, contributing to PSV's three consecutive league titles. He heightened his presence with five goals and four assists in the 2023-2024 season, recorded 11 goals and 11 assists in the 2024-2025 season, and last season he delivered 15 goals and eight assists. TalkSport also introduced him, stating, "Sarr has proven himself to be a reliable goal source in the Netherlands." And Sarr continues his performances on the World Cup stage.

Football statistics platform FotMob awarded Sarr the highest rating of 8.0 for both teams combined. Playing 84 minutes, Sarr recorded two shots, with only one on target. However, that single on-target shot resulted in the winning goal. He demonstrated the decisive ability to produce results even in limited opportunities.

Morocco deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation on this day. Sarr started as the central striker, with Diaz supporting behind him. Scotland countered with a 4-1-4-1 formation. The flow of the match was with Morocco from the early stages. Thanks to Sarr's early first-half goal, Morocco controlled the game advantageously.

Even afterward, Morocco continued to press Scotland with a fast tempo. In the 10th minute of the first half, Sarr once again had a decisive chance in front of the goal but failed to make contact with the ball. In the 36th minute, Morocco intercepted the ball from Scotland's Scott McTominay (Napoli) and launched a counterattack. Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart) attempted a right-footed shot, but the ball went over the crossbar.

Scotland, which spent much time on defense, also created counterattack opportunities. In stoppage time of the first half, John McGinn (Aston Villa) received Andy Robertson's (Tottenham) sharp cross and took a direct shot. However, the ball went wide of the goal.

In the second half, Scotland actively used substitution cards to try to turn the tide. Attacking resources such as Linden Diks (Charlton Athletic) and Ben Godfrey (Bournemouth) entered the field in succession. Indeed, Scotland increased the number of shots and pressed Morocco. However, they lacked accuracy at decisive moments.

In the late stages of the second half, Scotland attempted even stronger attacks. In a corner kick situation, Diks attempted a header shot, but the ball went wide of the goal. Then McTominay also took a turning shot while backing into a defender inside the penalty box, but the shot lost power after hitting a defender. The Morocco goalkeeper easily collected it.

Morocco also attempted consecutive shots in stoppage time of the second half by Hemsdine Talbi (Sunderland) and El Khannouss, but both shots missed the goal, failing to score a third goal. However, Morocco maintained a one-goal lead until the end.

Ultimately, Morocco defeated Scotland 1-0, led by Sarr's early winning goal. Having scored in both the Brazil and Scotland matches, Sarr has emerged as a top candidate for the best player of this World Cup. With rumors of a transfer to Bayern Munich, his name value continues to grow.

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*This content was translated by AI.