Morocco beat the Netherlands on penalties this Monday (29), in Monterrey, and qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup. The dispute ended with a score of 3-2, followed by a 1-1 draw in regulation time. SEE THE BEST MOMENTS:
Cody Gakpo was the scorer of the goal that opened the scoring at the BBVA Stadium, in Mexico, in favor of the Dutch. The 27-year-old striker, who lost his son during his girlfriend Noa van der Bij’s pregnancy, .
In the final stoppage time of the match, Issa Diop scored with a header and took the match to extra time. After another draw, the match went to penalties, where Bono saved a charge and helped the Moroccans to triumph in the match. Justin Kluivert, for the European side, and Neil El Aynaoui, for the Africans, hit the post, while Quinten Timber sent the ball wide.
In search of an unprecedented title, the Moroccan team advances to face Canada, . The duel takes place next Saturday (4), at 2pm (Brasília time), at NRG Stadium, in Houston.
About the game
After a start marked by a lot of marking and physical competition, the Netherlands achieved their first arrival in the 16th minute, where winger Crysencio Summerville was released at speed and tried to roll to center forward Brian Brobbey, but the Moroccan defense cleared the danger. The referee had also pointed out that the play was offside.
Afterwards, at 20, Morocco almost opened the scoring. From a corner kick in the area, midfielder Neil El Aynaoui headed firmly towards the first post and saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen make a great save. Soon after, full-back Achraf Hakimi was on target, but Verbruggen made another great intervention.
After the hydration break, the African team slowed down and allowed the European team to grow. In the 43rd minute, full-back Micky van de Ven finished from outside the box and forced goalkeeper Bono to stretch to make the save. In stoppage time, a dangerous cross into the Dutch area, but striker Ismael Saibari was unable to put the ball in the net.
After the break, the Moroccans started to get scared in the seventh minute, with a shot from Hakimi that hit the opponent’s crossbar. Better on the field, coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s men began to control possession of the ball, while the Netherlands relied on counterattacks.
In the 16th minute, Morocco crossed at the first post and Verbruggen prevented the opponent’s first goal of the game. In one of the attacks, Summerville accelerated, was marked and passed to striker Cody Gakpo, who scored for the sixth time in World Cups and put the Europeans at an advantage.
Just when it looked like the Dutch would advance to the round of 16, the Moroccans equalized at the 45-minute mark of the second stage. Winger Chemsdine Talbi made a great cross and defender Issa Diop headed well to equalize the dispute.
During extra time, the first dangerous arrival came from Morocco, in the sixth minute, when center forward Soufiane Rahimi faced goalkeeper Verbruggen, hit the corner and the rival performed a miracle to save the Netherlands.
With the tie prevailing until the final whistle, the duel went to penalty kicks. El Aynaoui and winger Justin Kluivert started by hitting the post. After a series of three hits, midfielder Quentin Timber knocked it out and the contest remained tied at 2-2. Hakimi hit the post, but Sumerville stopped in Bono’s defense. Finally, Saibari converted his attempt and qualified the Moroccans to the round of 16.
