Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the World Cup last 16, after a thrilling encounter in Monterrey finished 1-1 following extra time on Monday.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the decisive save, denying Crysencio Summerville’s fifth Dutch penalty, before striker Ismael Saibari blasted home the winning spot-kick to seal a 3-2 shootout victory. The result sends Morocco into a last 16 meeting with Canada in Houston on Saturday.
The match had swung dramatically late on. The Netherlands took the lead midway through the second half through Cody Gakpo, who played just days after his partner confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn son. The Liverpool forward sank to the turf in evident emotion as team-mates gathered around him in a prolonged embrace.
Morocco appeared to be heading for defeat until substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s cross found an unmarked Issa Diop, who headed in a dramatic equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time to force extra time.
Morocco had created the better chances throughout a fractious, ill-tempered contest that tested the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio. Neil al-Aynaoui was denied by a superb reflex save from Bart Verbruggen early on, while Verbruggen also tipped over a vicious Achraf Hakimi strike. Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven came closest for the Dutch in the first half, forcing Bounou into a fine save just before the interval.
The Netherlands appeared to have taken control after substitute Wout Weghorst flicked on a long ball to set up Summerville, who crossed for Gakpo to score. With Virgil van Dijk marshalling the Dutch defence, the result looked settled until Diop’s late intervention.
In extra time, Soufiane Rahimi looked to have won it for Morocco in the 96th minute but was denied by a stunning Verbruggen save. The match went to penalties, where Morocco recovered from El-Aynaoui hitting the bar on their opening kick to ultimately prevail.
