Morocco qualified for the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after beating Spain 3-0 in penalty shootout in the Round of 16 match at the Education City stadium in Qatar.
Yassine Bounou saved Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets’ penalty while for Morocco Abelhamid Sabiri, Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi found the back of the net.
Morocco became the first African nation to win a penalty shootout in World Cups. They become the first African nation since Ghana in 2010 to reach the last eight. Spain now holds the worst penalty shootout record, losing four out of five.
Spain became the third team after Italy and England to lose three consecutive World Cup Penalty shootout. Italy lost in 1990, 1994, 1998; England in 1990, 1998, 2006; Spain in 2002, 2018, 2022.
Spain attempted just one shot in the first 45 minutes against Morocco. However, both the sides continued to test the defenders with attacks along the wings, but neither side could found the net in the second half.
Bounou made two superb saves to deny Spain a goal in regulation times, while Pablo Sarabia shot hit the post in the dying minutes of the extra-time. Sarabia’s shot also hits the post during penalty shootout.
Unai Simon also made a fantastic save during the end of first half extra time to deny Morocco a goal.
Spain will exit the tournament having played some exciting football, but on the day their finishing just didn’t stack up as they failed to make a breakthrough during regulation and extra time.
Morocco Starting XI: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss (capt), Noussair Mazraoui; Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Selim Amallah; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
Spain Starting XI: Unai Simon; Marcos Llorente, Rodri Hernandez, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets (capt), Gavi, Pedri; Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo
Picture Courtesy: FIFA Media
