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Penalty shootout drama! Morocco knocks out Oranje
For the second consecutive Round of 32 match, it goes to a penalty shootout. After an intense game, Morocco prevails.
Morocco secures their Round of 16 ticket after the penalty shootout!
In the Round of 32, the Moroccans prevail against the Netherlands with a 3:2 victory in the penalty shootout, after the score was 1:1 following 120 minutes.
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From the start, the match is hard-fought. There are many tough tackles in the early phase, but referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio keeps his cards in his pocket for a long time.
The Moroccans create the first dangerous chances. Neil El Aynaoui (20th minute) and Achraf Hakimi (20th minute) are twice denied by Bart Verbruggen. Shortly before halftime, Micky van de Ven tests Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for the first time with a shot from distance, but the keeper manages to tip the ball over the crossbar (43rd minute).
In stoppage time of the first half, Ounahi and Saibari narrowly miss giving the Africans the lead.
Gakpo lets emotions run wild
Morocco starts the second half better. Hakimi gets into a dangerous scoring position twice, but is once denied by the crossbar and once by the sliding tackle of van de Ven.
In the 72nd minute, the previously substituted Weghorst extends a goal kick from Verbruggen to Summerville, who wins his running duel. Summerville, at the last moment and while falling, lays it across to Gakpo, who coolly slots it in for the 1-0 lead.
Emotions overcome Gakpo during his celebration, as the Dutchman had announced during the week that he and his wife had lost their unborn child.
Debut Goal for the Equalizer
When it already looked like an Oranje victory in stoppage time, Talbi, substituted in the 86th minute, delivers a cross to Issa Diop. The center-back heads in his first national team goal, saving Morocco and taking the game to extra time.
In the 94th minute, Soufiane Rahimi has an early match point at his feet. The substitute is perfectly set up by Saibari, makes a feint that leaves the last defender sliding past, but the striker fails to convert his shot from eight meters against the outstanding Verbruggen.
Five Misses from the Spot
Koopmeiners steps up first for Oranje and converts confidently. However, the first Moroccan, El Aynaoui, loses his nerve – he hits the crossbar. Kluivert, who was only substituted in at the end of stoppage time, also fails against the woodwork – this time it's the post.
After that, things get truly bitter for the Dutch. Verbruggen guesses the corner and actually saves Rahimi's shot, but he then inadvertently guides the ball into his own net with his heel. Weghorst powerfully strikes into the top corner for 3:2, and Talbi equalizes just as confidently.
Quinten Timber cannot follow suit; his penalty rolls well wide to the left of the goal. But Hakimi doesn't punish the miss; he hits – like Kluivert before him – the left post. And then Summerville also fails, with Bono making his first save on the central shot.
Saibari shows ice-cold composure for the decisive attempt, burying it in the bottom left corner and sending Morocco into the Round of 16.
There, the North Americans will face Canada on July 4th.
