Morocco Stuns Netherlands on Penalties to Reach World Cup Last 16
Guadalupe, México. Ismael Saibari converted the winning penalty after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a crucial save, sending Morocco past the Netherlands 3-2 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw on Monday and handing the Dutch their earliest-ever FIFA World Cup exit.
With the shootout tied 2-2 after four rounds, Bounou dived to his left to deny Crysencio Summerville, parrying away the Dutch winger's attempt with his outstretched left hand. Saibari then calmly buried the decisive spot kick into the lower left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen guessed the wrong way.
The Netherlands had advanced to at least the Round of 16 in each of its previous 11 World Cup appearances, including a quarterfinal run four years ago. Morocco, meanwhile, reached the semifinals at the last World Cup before advancing to the Round of 16 this year.
Cody Gakpo gave the Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute, finishing a move set up by Summerville. After scoring, the 27-year-old forward was embraced by teammates and coaches as the Dutch bench spilled onto the field. Gakpo broke down in tears after the goal. He and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced they had lost their unborn child.
Morocco equalized deep into stoppage time when Issa Diop headed home a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi in the first minute of added time.
Neither side created a clear scoring chance during the 30 minutes of extra time at Estadio BBVA, sending the match to penalties.
It was the second match of the tournament to be decided by a shootout. Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties earlier Monday.
The matchup featured the highest combined FIFA ranking of any Round of 32 contest, with Morocco ranked sixth in the world and the Netherlands seventh.
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