The Gulf champion, our national football team, delivered a disciplined tactical performance against their Moroccan counterpart in the match held on Thursday at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The game ended with the home team winning by a last-minute goal in the 94th minute, denying “the Reds” at least a draw after a distinguished defensive performance that lasted until the final seconds.

From the start of the match, it was clear that the national team’s technical staff, led by Croatian coach Dragan Talajić, relied on strict defensive organization to limit the danger posed by the Moroccan team, which entered the match with high morale after a streak of 14 consecutive wins. “The Reds” successfully implemented a tight defensive plan, closing spaces in front of Morocco’s key playmakers, especially on the flanks, which are among Morocco’s main offensive weapons.

The “Atlas Lions” dominated the first half with possession exceeding 70%, but despite this field advantage, they failed to break through our national team’s defensive block, which showed high focus and mental presence, with players bravely repelling repeated Moroccan attempts, highlighted by the clear brilliance of the defense line and goalkeeper.

In the second half, our national team tried to transition from defense to attack and initiated several attempts. However, the lack of speed in transition and offensive support, along with poor passing accuracy, reduced the effectiveness of these attempts, keeping real danger limited.

The match was heading towards a goalless draw until Morocco scored the winning goal in the 94th minute, exploiting a momentary lapse in concentration after disciplined play throughout the match.

Despite the loss, the national team gained important technical and mental benefits, showing a high ability to compete with one of Africa’s strongest teams and proving it has a cohesive defensive system capable of standing up to major teams.

It can be said that “the Reds” gave a lesson in defensive organization and tactical discipline, but on the other hand, they need to develop the attacking aspect, especially in quick transitions and chance creation, to complete the picture and become more balanced in upcoming competitions.

Our national team awaits a friendly match against Egypt’s second team on October 12 before returning to Manama.