GUADALUPE, Mexico — Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarterfinals after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a dramatic 1-1 draw on Monday night.
Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s spot kick, sending Morocco into the next round and condemning the Dutch to their earliest World Cup exit.
Morocco will face Canada on Saturday in Houston for a place in the semifinals.
With the shootout tied at 2-2 after four rounds, Bounou dived to his left to deny Summerville before Saibari calmly slotted the winning penalty into the bottom-left corner, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Moroccan players.
The Netherlands looked set to progress after Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. The forward was embraced by the entire Dutch bench after scoring before breaking down in tears. Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced the loss of their unborn child.
Morocco refused to give in and found a dramatic equalizer in first-half stoppage time through Issa Diop. Chemsdine Talbi delivered a looping cross into the penalty area and Diop powered a header beyond Bart Verbruggen to force extra time.
Neither side was able to create a decisive chance during the additional 30 minutes, sending the contest to penalties.
Morocco recovered after falling behind early in the shootout when Verbruggen failed to keep out Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty, with the ball crossing the line after deflecting off the goalkeeper’s leg.
Bounou then produced the decisive save before Saibari sealed victory from the spot.
The result continues Morocco’s impressive World Cup run after becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals in Qatar four years ago.
For the Netherlands, the defeat marks their earliest exit from a World Cup. The Dutch had reached at least the Round of 16 in each of their previous 11 World Cup appearances, including a quarterfinal run in 2022.
It was the second match of the tournament to be decided by a penalty shootout after Paraguay eliminated Germany earlier on Monday.
Source: Saudi Gazette