Morocco Qualifies for Round of 16 After Victory Over Netherlands in Penalties

SadaNews - Morocco qualified for the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup by defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after the regular and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

After an exciting penalty shootout, Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou shone by saving the decisive penalty from Krépin Diatta before Ismail Sayad recorded the decisive penalty to win Morocco's match in the Round of 32 in Monterrey.

Cody Gakpo had given the Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute, but Morocco pressed late to equalize in stoppage time with a header from defender Aïssa Diop.

Morocco, seeking to repeat its achievement in the 2022 finals when it reached the semi-finals, will face Canada in the Round of 16 on July 4.

This is the second time that the Moroccan team, participating for the seventh time in the World Cup, has gone to extra time in the knockout stages, after its encounter with the Spanish team in the Round of 16 during the last edition held in Qatar in 2022.

The regular time ended in a goalless draw between Morocco and Spain back then, leading them to extra time, which failed to determine a winner as the score remained 0-0, ultimately resorting to penalties, which smiled upon the "Atlas Lions," who made their way to the semi-finals, finishing in fourth place in the tournament.