The Moroccan national team came from behind on Monday to defeat the Netherlands 2-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, advancing to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
Cody Gapko scored for the Dutch in the 72nd minute, while Issa Diop scored for the Africans in the 90+1st minute, a score that forced the game into extra time and then a penalty shootout, in which the Atlas Lions prevailed.
Morocco had the better chances, but Verbruggen and Bounou kept the score at zero
The match began with numerous fouls and a showdown between Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari and Dutch defender Jan Paul Van Hecke.
Those who toned down the intensity after a warning from Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.
It was the Africans who came close to taking the lead.
In the 20th minute, Ayyoub Bouaddi took a shot, and a minute later, Achraf Hakimi took a shot; both were stopped by two good saves from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
The Moroccans created danger down the wings.
The Dutch defended well with their five-man back line, and in the 44th minute, they created a scoring chance with a left-footed shot by Micky van de Ven, which was saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Morocco was aggressive as the first half came to a close.
In the 45+2nd minute, Bilal El Khannouss sent a precise pass to Saibari, who was a split second too late to reach the ball.
Four minutes later, the PSV Eindhoven player missed again despite having everything going for him (Filed under: Morocco Knocks Out the Netherlands).
Reaction at the Last Minute
In the second half, Hakimi hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute and broke away with the ball under control in the 56th minute, but the attack was thwarted by a miraculous save by Van de Ven.
Just when the Africans were playing their best, the Netherlands took the lead.
Hours after his wife suffered a miscarriage, Gakpko received a pass from Crysencio Summerville and beat Bonou with a right-footed shot to make it 1-0.
Moroccan head coach Mohamed Ouahbi made substitutions in an effort to tie the game.
Among them was Chemsdine Talbi, who, in the 90+1st minute, set up Diop, who scored the 1-1 equalizer with a header, sending the game into overtime.
Monterrey was the venue for an exciting match
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In the only scoring chance of extra time, in the 97th minute, Verbruggen saved the Dutch by closing the angle and deflecting a point-blank shot by Soufiam Rahimi wide.
The penalty shootout decided Morocco’s 2-3 victory.
Ismael Saibari scored the winning goal for the Moroccans.
In the round of 16, Morocco will face Canada on July 4 in Houston (Filed under: Morocco Eliminates the Netherlands).
Technical Specifications
1(2). Netherlands: Bart Verbruggen; Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake (Teun Koopmeiners, 71′), Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven (Jarrel Hato, 86′), Denzel Dumfries; Ryan Gravenberch (Quinten Timber, 86′), Frenkie de Jong (Marten de Roon, 110′); Cody Gakpo (Justin Kluiver, 113′), Brian Brobbey (Wout Weghorst, 71′), Crysencio Summerville.
Head Coach: Ronald Koeman.
1(3). Morocco: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad (Salah Eddine, 75′); Ayyoub Bouaddi (Samir El Mourabet, 79′), Azzedine Ounahi (Soufiam Rahimi, 86′), Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss (Chemsdine Talbi, 86′), Neil El Aynaoui; Brahim Díaz (Gessime Yassime, 79′).
Head Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi.
Goals: 1-0, 72′: Cody Gakpo; 1-1, 90+1′: Issa Diop.
Penalty shootout: 1-0: Teun Koopmeiners; 1-0: Neil El Aynaoui hits the crossbar; 1-0: Justin Kluivert misses; 1-1: Soudiam Rahimi; 2-1: Wout Weghorst; 2-2: Chemsdine Talbi; 2-2: Quinter Timber, wide. 2-2: Achraf Kahiki, hits the post; 2-2: Crysencio Summerville, saved by Bounou. 3-2: Ismael Saibari.
Referee: Wilton Sampaio of Brazil. He issued a yellow card to Issa Diop.
Match Details: Round of 32 match in the World Cup, held at Monterrey Stadium in northern Mexico, in front of 51,243 fans (Filed under: Morocco eliminates the Netherlands).
With information from EFE
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