After suffering two losses in their opening matches, the young Atlas Lion Cubs produced a stunning offensive display. From the very start, Morocco imposed its rhythm, opening the scoring early and piling on the goals as the match progressed. New Caledonia, already struggling after their heavy defeat to Portugal in their first game, saw their situation worsen with two red cards in the first half (22nd and 31st minutes).
By the 18th minute, Morocco was already leading 3–0, and the pace only intensified before halftime. Between the 41st and 47th minutes, they scored four more goals, pushing the score to rarely seen heights in international youth football. The same story continued after the break, with another flurry of goals between the 49th and 59th minutes.
In total, the match recorded 83 shots, with 80 coming from Morocco—a clear demonstration of total dominance. This performance was even more remarkable given that the team had failed to score in their first two matches and held a goal difference of –8. Following this game, they now boast a positive difference of +8, marking an extraordinary turnaround.
Qualification Still Possible
With this resounding victory, Morocco is back in the race. Currently sitting third in Group B behind Portugal and Japan, the Lion Cubs can now hope to qualify among the best eight third-placed teams for a spot in the Round of 16. Beyond the historic scoreline, this win sends a powerful message: the young Lions have rediscovered their confidence, intensity, and ambition.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv