Morocco beats Saudi Arabia 1–0 to advance from Arab Cup group stage

The Moroccan national reserve team clinched its second win in the Arab Cup finals in Qatar, edging out Saudi Arabia 1-0 at Lusail Stadium.

Karim El Berkaoui netted the decisive goal just 11 minutes into the match, seizing on the first opportunity directed at the Saudi goal.

Goal|
Morocco leads 1-0 against Saudi Arabia through Karim El Berkaoui in the 11th minute

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Following their early advantage, the Moroccan squad shifted to a defensive stance, allowing the Saudi team to take the initiative. Despite mounting pressure on the Atlas Lions' defense, the Saudis failed to find an equalizer. A golden chance came in the 69th minute when Saudi Arabia was awarded a penalty, but Hamdan's shot sailed over the crossbar, leaving the score unchanged until the final whistle.

The match drew a record-breaking crowd for the Arab Cup 2025, with over 78,000 fans in attendance.

Looking ahead, Morocco is set to face Syria in their next encounter, while Saudi Arabia will go up against Palestine.