England looked defensively unstable as a fantasticly energetic Morroco side exploited them thrice in a thrilling 3-3 draw in their first game of the Toulon Tournament.
An early poked finish from Demarai Gray gave an England side full of attacking intent a deserved lead.
Yet after Chris Walton handled outside his box, Morocco equalised in the 13th minute through a drilled, deflected free-kick, the ball eventually ending up in the back of the net off Hause's foot.
Within a minute the green and red's had an unexpected lead as Hajhouj pressurised England's defence brilliantly, again. This time he nicked the ball of Cargill before squaring it to Bencharki to finish past Walton.
England responded in the 24th minute as Watmore charged down a long ball from deep midfield, beating the goalkeeper rushing out and poking it into the empty net.
Bencharki regained the lead for Morroco with just a minute before half time.
England had a man sent off in Iorfa but Chuba Akpom's introduction gave them a new attacking output, and a brilliant one at that. Akpom took a nice turn here, a neat pass there and in the 77th minute, with 3 minutes to go, struck a beautiful, floating shot over the stranded Tagnaouti and into the back of the net for the equalier.
Scorers: Demarai Gray (8'), Watmore (24’), Chuba Akpom (77') // Hajhouj (13’), Bencharki (14’, 39)
Morocco got the game underway and instantly had the crowd going in their first game of the tournament. Chris Walton had to backpedal quickly to avoid a cross tricking him as it dipped over his head, looking to be going into the side of the net.
The Brighton goalkeeper's early save meant the game instantly took an end-to-end feel about it. England settled into it quickly after their early scare, taking control of possession.
Demarai Gray used his brilliant speed to move in and out of the Moroccan defence, nutmegging one before bursting through. The ball got under his feet as he looked to offload it into the box so it was an effort less brilliant than his run. James Wilson, the highest profile player in the side, almost got onto it.
Wilson had another chance to attack the ball as Matt Grimes of Swansea delivered a luscious free-kick, yet the bounce it took was unusual and Wilson seemed confused, leaving it for a corner instead.
England continued a lovely spell of attacking threat as Watmore fed Demarai Gray, closed in by two Moroccan players, through. The pressure was no problem though for Gray as he poked it past the goalkeeper to give England a 7th minute lead.
Yet Morocco looked good to come back. They immediately attacked as England rushed back to defend.
Moments later, Walton rushed out to meet the ball as the Moroccan attack chased it down.
Yet as he picked it up, the assistant spotted it was just a few centre-metres outside his box and gave the free-kick. Complaining Walton trudged back to his goal but he had to pick the ball out of his net a few moments later. Hajhouj was laid off the ball from the set piece and drilled it into the area, the ball deflected off Hause and past Walton.
Less than a minute later, Morocco's pressure forced another error from the English defence. Hajhouj chased down Baily Cargill on the ball, nicked it from his feet and charged into the area where Walton was the only man in white. He stood tall but with Bencharki waiting with Hajhouj, he had no chance as Bencharki powered it past him easily.
Again, Morocco powered forward in numbers as the England defence looked awful again. Another mistake saw Hajhouj pick the ball up in the box again, slip past one and square it but the oncoming runner slipped and missed the ball.
So much so was the lack of defensive composure that England boss Aidy Boothroyd looked to bring Isaac Hayden on for Baily Cargill. Yet as the game relaxed, Hayden sat back on the bench after a warm up.
Boothroyd almost look to regret his decision not to bring him on as Morocco cut through a sleeping England defence again, this time the ball flying across the six yard box for the sliding Moroccan. Again, the chance was missed but again, England looked shockingly bad.
Despite looking poor, England knew that whatever happened, they would have the star quality in their side. They didn't have to use it, however, to equalise.
Duncan Wattmore charged down a long ball from midfield as the Moroccan goalkeeper, Tagnaouti, came rushing out to meet it. Wattmore's little flick as the keeper brought him down dribbled into the empty net, giving England the equaliser and the chance to calm the game down after an electric first 25 minutes.
Matt Grimes' deliveries looked good in the opening minutes and as the half hour mark approached, he produced another good one, flicked on by Gray but the flick on couldn't be met in the box.
After a ridiculous spell of awful England defending and speedy Moroccan attacking, James Wilson and Demarai Gray got on the ball more, giving England a better attacking threat, giving them the advantage.
James Wilson did excellently to power past two players, before striking through the legs of Al Asbahi and towards Tagnaouti's near post. The Moroccan keeper got down to it but Wilson sensed his weakness, attacking him.
Dominic Iorfa of Wolves got a first half booking as he dived in to El Karti on the edge of the area, getting in just before he reached the area.
In a similar distance from their first free-kick which gave them the equalier, Morocco tried the same thing. Yet England released the player as soon as it was struck, blocking it well.
Iorfa looked like getting back and did so as Bencharki ran in behind him, yet his interception hit the wrong part of his body and it bounced into the path of Bencharki, who struck it past Walton.
England looked for a quick reply before half time at 40 minutes, as is with the Toulon tournament, but they couldn't find it.
Moses Odubajo was brought on at the start of the second half for England, replacing Cargill, who made the mistake for Morocco's second goal.
Iorfa did well to get to the Moroccan byline and deliver a nice, mid-height ball to the first goalscorer, Demarai Gray. The Birmingham youngster attached on to it but hit it just wide of Tagnaouti's post.
Hajhouj struck from distance for Walton to catch easily as both sides powered forward every time they had the ball, providing a brilliant spectacle.
England had a huge blow as with 23 minutes to go, Iorfa was sent down the tunnel early for a sun bathe in the Toulon evening sun. Holding back the Moroccan attacker's shirt, Iorfa received his second booking of the game.
Morocco did well from the free-kick, striking it with power like before and continue to rush forward with the ball, proving their dominance.
England's weakness and vulnerability was perfectly displayed as their star, most high-profile, player, James Wilson was easily muscled off the ball in the Morocco half.
Ait Khorsa came off for Qasmi for Morocco while El Hassouni was too selfish in the box, giving the ball away.
El Karti struck from the right flank but Walton got down well to it.
Chuba Akpom came on for Hanson as Reed also replaced the goalscorer Watmore, Aidy Boothroyd looking to make the attacks more clinical.
Bencharki went off after a fantastic performance in greed and red, being replaced by Ennafatti.
Gray put it into the box as 70 minutes neared to win the corner, but really it was Chuba Akpom making all the difference, a little turn here, a neat touch there or a nicely weighted pass to Wilson.
James Wilson was disappointing, though unlucky with a lack of service, and thus came off with 10 minutes to go, replaced by Callum Robinson. El Karti came off for Boulhroude.
In contrast to Wilson, Hajhouj created his own chances by putting immense pressure on the England defence. He had a great day for Morocco, replaced by Es Said with 5 minutes to go as the floodlights came on with the sun setting.
While Wilson failed to impress, Chuba Akpom, as a substitute, made himself the man of the moment with a fantastic finish into the top corner on the edge of the box.
Despite under performances across the park for England, it only took once piece of brilliance from Akpom, his shot floating over Tagnaouti, to draw things level.
The late equaliser spurred England on to look for the undeserved win. Both Akpom and Gray earned free-kicks in the last minute as Grimes' deliveries were good again.
Walton had to stop Morocco with a stunning save after they took a quick free-kick on the counter attack. The corner scared the English defence once more as Hause booted it clear for the full-time whistle.
It was a remarkable game as the green and red of Morocco displayed their unexpected quality against a hugely underperforming England side who were saved by an excellent Chuba Akpom goal.