By For The New York Times

In Morocco’s Botola Pro on Sunday, Olympique Dcheïra delivered a late, dramatic blow to Yacoub El Mansour with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a goal deep in stoppage time. The match, played at an unnamed venue, was taut and fiercely contested—a contest that seemed destined for a stalemate until the final moments unraveled for the hosts.

The deciding action came in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Olympique Dcheïra, pushing forward with urgency, capitalized on their numerical advantage. Midfielder M. Abba, who had already been in the thick of the action—and booked earlier for his troubles—threaded a precise assist to A. Bennadi. Bennadi made no mistake, guiding the ball home past the despairing reaches of the Yacoub El Mansour goalkeeper, sending the Dcheïra bench into jubilation and leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.

For most of the afternoon, the match bore the hallmarks of a chess match rather than a free-flowing spectacle. Both teams appeared cagey, preferring to probe rather than gamble. A series of tactical fouls and persistent challenges disrupted any embryonic rhythm, as was reflected in the stack of yellow cards distributed throughout the proceedings.

The first caution arrived midway through the opening period when Olympique Dcheïra’s M. Adjar was booked for a late challenge in the 24th minute. The hosts responded with vigor, and the half concluded with the match finely poised, neither side managing to conjure a clear opportunity to break the deadlock.

Yacoub El Mansour looked to inject impetus after the interval through a series of substitutions—first I. Sayad at halftime, followed by Z. Fati and A. Jabroun on the hour mark, in pursuit of fresh legs and ideas. Yet, Olympique Dcheïra proved resolute, their defensive structure absorbing the pressure with discipline.

The second half grew increasingly fractious. Y. Legnibi of Yacoub El Mansour was cautioned in the 65th minute, and trouble brewed as tensions escalated. Dcheïra’s M. Abba was shown yellow in the 77th, while his teammate K. Raiss joined the list of offenders in the 84th minute, as tactical fouling became a hallmark of the closing stages.

The game’s pivotal moment unfolded in the 87th minute when Legnibi, already booked, lunged recklessly into another challenge and received a straight red card for his trouble. Reduced to ten men, Yacoub El Mansour was left perilously exposed, their structure momentarily frayed. In the ensuing minutes, Dcheïra seized the initiative, piling bodies forward. Their persistence paid off with the decisive goal just before the final whistle.

For Olympique Dcheïra, the victory represents not merely three points but a psychological boost—a demonstration of late-game resolve that could serve them well as the Botola Pro campaign unfolds. Manager and players alike will savor not only the manner but the timing of the win, achieved on the opponent’s turf and in adversity.

For Yacoub El Mansour, there will be frustration at how the contest slipped away so late and at the discipline that deserted them at the most critical juncture. Their substitutions throughout the second half—Sayad, Fati, Jabroun, Balouk, and Ahannach—failed to tip the balance in their favor, while the late dismissal of Legnibi left the side fatally undermanned.

Both teams made full use of their benches as the match wore on, seeking any edge to tilt this razor-close contest. Olympique Dcheïra’s substitutions—including Fahmi, Abardi, Amzili, and the influential Abba—reflected their intent to chase a result until the end, a philosophy that ultimately yielded its reward.

In the broader context of the Botola Pro, this result nudges Olympique Dcheïra upward in the early standings and provides a template for grinding out results even when the margins are fine and fortune favors the brave. For Yacoub El Mansour, the challenge will be to regroup, restore discipline and return to the drawing board ahead of the next fixture.

On an afternoon where quality was often sacrificed for combativeness, it was fitting that the game’s lone moment of lucidity—a well-conceived and executed move—proved the difference. For Olympique Dcheïra, it was a moment to savor; for Yacoub El Mansour, one to rue.