Late equaliser from Odegaard allows Norway to salvage a draw against Morocco

Both managers selected strong starting elevens with Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and his Norwegian counterpart Odegaard both returning, eight days after they faced each other in the UEFA Champions League final for Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal respectively.

Norway's record goalscorer Erling Haaland also returned to earn his 50th senior cap, but the striker was a bystander for much of the first half as Morocco made the brighter start.

Azzedine Ounahi saw an early attempt blocked before Brahim Diaz put the Atlas Lions ahead in the eighth minute, collecting Abde Ezzalzouli's pass on the edge of the box and firing low past Orjan Nyland to net his 14th international goal.

That seemed to rouse Norway, and Kristoffer Ajer flicked a header just past the post after 14 minutes before Alexander Sorloth had an equaliser ruled out for a push on Noussair Mazraoui.

The Morocco full back then went off injured just before the half hour mark, Youssef Belammari replacing him, which gave manager Mohamed Ouahbi a worry ahead of their Group C opener against Brazil on Saturday.

Despite the setback, the Atlas Lions remained a threat and Ezzalzouli blazed over from six yards late in the half, though they were grateful to Yassine Bounou after the goalkeeper made a flying save to deny Antonio Nusa.

Ezzalzouli needed treatment before the break and was replaced by Soufiane Rahimi at half time, handing Ouahbi another injury concern.

Morocco did not begin the second half with the same intensity as the first, but they almost doubled their lead when Nyland parried Diaz's fierce effort only as far as Neil El Aynoui, who could not keep his header down.

Ouahbi then made seven changes just after the hour mark, but it was a Norway substitute who made the difference as Oscar Bobb set up Odegaard to score only his fifth international goal with 15 minutes to play.

Another substitute almost had an instant impact when Kristian Thorstvedt headed wide from Julian Ryerson's free kick moments after coming on, but the game ended all square as Norway failed to win for only the fourth time in their last 16 matches (D3, L1).

They can now look forward to facing Iraq on Tuesday, June 16 in their first World Cup finals fixture since 1998, while 2022 semi finalists Morocco head into the clash with Brazil still unbeaten under Ouahbi (W3, D2).