Morocco came from behind to send the Netherlands to an early World Cup exit, beating them 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the last 16 in a gripping round of 32 tie at Estadio BBVA on Monday.
Morocco, ranked one place above their opponents in the world rankings, dominated for long periods of a fiery encounter overseen by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio, who was called into early action after a niggly first-half flashpoint between Ismael Saibari and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Captain Achraf Hakimi saw a crossbow effort come back off the woodwork, while Saibari fired narrowly wide before the break. Bart Verbruggen produced a string of fine saves to keep the Dutch goalkeeper’s side level, with Virgil van Dijk also making a crucial defensive intervention to deny Saibari in the 80th minute.
Against the run of play, the deadlock was broken in the 72nd minute when Cody Gakpo struck for the Netherlands, assisted by Crysencio Summerville. The Dutch bench mobbed the forward in an emotional scene, with Gakpo and his partner having recently announced the loss of their unborn child.
But Morocco refused to fold, defender Issa Diop rising unmarked to head home a stoppage-time equaliser from a Chemsdine Talbi cross, his first senior international goal, forcing extra time. Diop was later named Man of the Match for the intervention.
The additional period proved tense, Soufiane Rahimi denied by another outstanding Verbruggen save as Morocco continued to press for a winner.
Penalties followed, and the drama refused to let up. Teun Koopmeiners opened the shootout for the Dutch before Neil El Aynaoui struck the crossbar for Morocco. Wout Weghorst and Talbi both converted, before Justin Kluivert also hit the post for the Netherlands.
Rahimi’s effort looked saved by Verbruggen before squirming over the line off the goalkeeper’s leg, and Quinten Timber then missed wide for the Dutch. Hakimi’s spot-kick came back off the post, but Yassine Bounou produced the decisive save, batting away Summerville’s attempt, before Saibari calmly rolled home the winner, tearing off his shirt in celebration as his teammates mobbed him.
Mohamed Ouahbi, who took charge of Morocco in March, struck a humble note afterwards. “We give all the energy that we have on the field,” he said of Rahimi’s deflected effort. “Rahimi’s goal could have not been a goal, but it went in thankfully.”
The coach added that he felt Morocco had won wider respect with their display against a Dutch side who had reached the last 16 or better in their previous eleven World Cups, including the quarter-finals four years ago in Qatar.
Morocco face co-hosts Canada in the round of 16 in Houston on 4 July.
