Morocco have booked their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Monterrey.
The Dutch looked set for victory after Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the second half, putting the Netherlands national football team in control for much of the contest.
However, Morocco refused to back down, with Issa Diop striking deep into stoppage time to level matters and force extra time, sending the game to penalties.
In the shootout, Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero, producing a decisive save to deny Crysencio Summerville’s fifth Dutch penalty. Moments later, Ismael Saibari stepped up to convert the winning spot-kick, sealing a 3-2 shootout triumph for the Morocco national football team.
The result sends Morocco into a last-16 clash against Canada in Houston on Saturday.
