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Morocco secured their spot in the World Cup last 16 after beating Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Monterrey, Mexico.
Morocco edged past the Dutch 3-2 on penalties to set up a last 16 showdown with Canada on Saturday, Ismael Saibari claiming the decisive goal after Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty and multiple missed opportunities and saves on both sides.
It came after Cody Gakpo had given Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute following a superb break from Crysencio Summerville. What followed were emotional scenes as Gakpo wiped away the tears, days after the 27-year-old and his partner Noa van der Bij announced they had experienced a pregnancy loss.
Momentum had shifted again and it looked likely Gakpo’s goal would be the decisive one, but a cross in the 90th minute found a charging Issa Diop, whose header found the corner of the goal and ensured the match would go into extra-time.
Morocco created the best chance of the extra 30 minutes and looked certain to take the lead when Soufiane Rahimi’s was one-on-one with Bart Verbruggen, but the Dutch goalkeeper was somehow able to deflect the shot from point-blank range in what was the save of the tournament so far.
However, the Ducth goalkeeper could not repeat the heroics in the shootout as Netherlands became the second European side to be heading home on pnealties in a matter of hours after Germany’s shock penalty defeat to Paraguay.
The key moments from Monterrey…
72: GOAL! Gakpo broke the deadlock, sparking emotional celebrations from Netherlands.
90+1: GOAL! Diop grabbed a dramatic equaliser as Morocco sent the tie to extra time.
96: SAVE! Verbruggen produced the save of the tournament to deny Rahimi from point-blank range.
PENALTIES! Shootout dram as Netherland missed three penalties and Morocco missed two.
PENALTIES! Saibari eventually scored the winning penalty as Morocco set up a last 16 clash with Canada.
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