🔥 Morocco into the last 16: mad pens, Netherlands KO! Gakpo agony 🥹 | OneFootball

Morocco beat the Netherlands and soar into the Round of 16 after a battle decided only on penalties. Gakpo’s goal (72') — after which he burst into tears shortly after scoring — was answered at the death by Diop (90+1'), sending the match into extra time. But the real surprises came in the shootout: from the spot, absolutely everything happened, with shocking misses and saves that somehow turned into goals. In the end, Ouahbi’s men came out on top (2-3) and booked their place in the clash against Canada.

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The match was mainly defined by tactical balance. The pace stayed low, partly because of the heat, and neither side chose to press high. Morocco, however, gradually took control of the game and created the better chances. Verbruggen first proved decisive on El Aynaoui’s header and then on Hakimi’s long-range right-footed strike. The Netherlands’ only real response in the first half came from a long-distance effort by Van de Ven, tipped behind for a corner by Bounou.

After the break, the Africans stepped things up, but it was the Netherlands who struck first: Weghorst held the ball up, Summerville broke down the wing and set up Gakpo, who made it 1-0 to the Dutch. It was a goal with huge emotional weight for the striker, whose partner had lost the baby she was expecting just a few days earlier.

Morocco were rocked, but they never stopped believing. Ouahbi turned to his bench and found the right card: Talbi delivered a perfect cross and deep into stoppage time, Diop rose highest just a few steps from Verbruggen to make it 1-1.

In extra time, the script did not change. Morocco kept driving the game, while the Netherlands sat back. The biggest chance fell to Rahimi, who was denied by a superb Verbruggen.

🤯 CRAZY penalties! Saibari seals Morocco’s win

The match was therefore decided on penalties, where the Netherlands’ curse continued. Koopmeiners stepped up first and gave the Dutch the lead. Right after that, El Aynaoui went to the spot, fired high, and his shot crashed off the crossbar. Then it was Kluivert’s turn, and he hit the post, reigniting Moroccan hopes, with the Africans pulling level through Rahimi. In this case, it was Verbruggen who ended up knocking it in with his heel after getting a touch on it.

The third penalty was converted by both teams, through Weghorst and Talbi respectively. The fourth spot-kick was missed by both the Netherlands and Morocco, first with Timber firing wide and then Hakimi hitting the post. On the fifth Dutch penalty, Bounou hypnotized Summerville, leaving the decisive kick at the feet of Saibari, who made no mistake and sent Morocco into the Round of 16.

🥺 Gakpo bursts into tears after the goal

Right after scoring the goal that put the Netherlands ahead, Gakpo could not hold back his emotions and burst into tears as he thought about his great pain. Just a few days ago, his partner lost the baby she was expecting. All his teammates, both on the pitch and from the bench, ran to embrace him, creating a beautiful moment. 

🎉 A record-breaking Morocco march into the Round of 16 as celebrations begin

With last night’s win, as reported by Opta, Morocco became the first African team in World Cup history to get through at least one knockout round in more than one edition. It is further proof of what a great side Ouahbi’s national team is.

Among the images from Morocco’s celebrations, one that surely stands out is Saibari’s embrace with his mother immediately after scoring the decisive penalty to send them through.

Then the celebrations continued in the dressing room, with the whole team embracing Diop for scoring the goal that allowed Morocco to keep dreaming.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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