MONTERREY, Mexico : Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties on Monday to reach the World Cup last 16 after their Round of 32 tie ended 1-1 following extra time, setting up a clash with co-hosts Canada in Houston on Saturday.
Ismael Saibari converted the winning spot kick after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty, sealing Morocco’s place in the next round after they had forced extra time with a stoppage-time equaliser.
Morocco’s Neil El Aynaoui and Dutch substitute Justin Kluivert both missed from the spot before Bart Verbruggen appeared to save Soufiane Rahimi’s effort, only for the ball to slip underneath him and trickle over the line.
Quinten Timber then fired the Netherlands’ fourth penalty wide. Achraf Hakimi struck the post with the chance to win the shootout before Saibari calmly converted to send Morocco through.
The shootout capped a gripping contest in Monterrey in which Cody Gakpo’s emotional second-half opener was cancelled out by Issa Diop’s stoppage-time header before neither side could find a winner in extra time.
Thousands of Morocco supporters erupted at the final whistle in the final World Cup match to be played in Monterrey, with many local fans joining the celebrations after backing the African side throughout the evening.
“We know this type of game, we know against who we play,” Hakimi said. “We have to be focused and be strong physically but also mentally.
“I want to say thank you to Mexico for the support, all the Moroccans that came to support us.”
Morocco created the better chances in the opening half, but Verbruggen produced a string of fine saves to deny Ayoub Bouaddi’s close-range header and El Aynaoui’s powerful strike.
Bounou was largely untroubled until he parried Micky van de Ven’s long-range effort, while Hakimi hit the crossbar and forced another save from Verbruggen as the Dutch struggled to contain the marauding full back.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman’s introduction of Wout Weghorst gave his side a focal point in attack and changed the momentum.
The Atlas Lions enjoyed vocal backing throughout, with many Mexican supporters adopting Morocco for the night and reviving chants of “No era penal” (“It wasn’t a penalty”), recalling the controversial spot kick that helped the Netherlands eliminate Mexico at the 2014 World Cup.
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when Weghorst won a flick-on that released Summerville, whose persistence created the opening for Gakpo to sweep a first-time finish past Bounou.
Playing only days after he and his partner lost their unborn son during pregnancy, Gakpo broke down in tears after scoring as teammates rushed to embrace him.
The Netherlands looked set to close out the match, with captain Virgil van Dijk making a crucial intervention to deny Saibari as Morocco pushed for an equaliser.
But in stoppage time, substitute Chemsdine Talbi delivered an inviting cross from the left and Diop rose above Van Dijk to power a header beyond Verbruggen, sending the match into extra time.
“The game plan was working,” Van Dijk said. “In the end, in stoppage time, you get pushed back. Then it goes to penalties and then… unfortunately, we’re eliminated.
“Of course there are always things that could be better, but that doesn’t help us now.”
Both sides had chances in extra time as the momentum continued to swing, but neither could find a decisive goal.
Morocco ultimately held their nerve in the shootout to keep their World Cup campaign alive and book a last-16 meeting with Canada.
