The two managers named strong starting line-ups with Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Norwegian counterpart Odegaard both returning, eight days after they faced off in the UEFA Champions League final for Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal respectively.
Norway’s all-time record goalscorer Erling Haaland was also back in the side to earn his 50th senior cap, but the striker was a spectator for much of the first half as Morocco started brightest.
Azzedine Ounahi saw an early effort blocked before Brahim Diaz gave the Atlas Lions an eighth-minute lead, receiving Abde Ezzalzouli’s pass on the edge of the box and firing low beyond Orjan Nyland to score his 14th international goal.
That appeared to wake Norway up, and Kristoffer Ajer flicked a header just past the post after 14 minutes before Alexander Sorloth saw an equaliser ruled out for a push on Noussair Mazraoui.
The Morocco full-back was then withdrawn due to injury just before the half-hour mark, with Youssef Belammari replacing him, giving manager Mohamed Ouahbi a scare ahead of their Group C opener against Brazil on Saturday.
Despite the setback, the Atlas Lions remained dangerous and Ezzalzouli blazed over from six yards late in the half, although 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, presenting Ouahbi with another injury scare.
Morocco did not start the second half with the same intensity as the first, but they almost doubled the 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 teed up Odegaard to score only his fifth international goal with 15 minutes remaining.
Another substitute almost made an instant impact when Kristian Thorstvedt headed wide from Julian Ryerson’s free-kick moments after coming on, but the game ended level as Norway failed to win for just 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).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sander Berge (Norway)
