Morocco overcome Netherlands in chaotic penalty shootout to advance to last 16

[p]A determined start from both sides saw tackles flying in during the opening exchanges, with the referee doing well to allow the game to flow, and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] attempting to play the more expansive football.[/p][p]Though neither team were close to scoring in the first 15 minutes, both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saibari-ismael/WzSmqNMQ/"]Ismael Saibari[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/summerville-crysencio/EaRET7t6/"]Crysencio Summerville[/a] did get in behind the respective opposing back fours, only to see defenders get back and cover. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verbruggen-bart/6PChQYLj/"]Bart Verbruggen[/a]’s point-blank save kept out a bullet header from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/el-aynaoui-neil/f3mqZ2x6/"]Neil El Aynaoui[/a] before an even better one-handed flying stop saw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a]’s rocket tipped over.[/p][p]Chances remained at a premium as the half progressed, with the physical nature of the encounter encapsulated by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-hecke-jan-paul/WG59HGIH/"]Jan Paul van Hecke[/a]’s blood-stained blonde hair after a challenge.[/p][p]The pace of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-de-ven-micky/rotN6HH8/"]Micky van de Ven[/a] at one end and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mazraoui-noussair/2ajowGAq/"]Noussair Mazraoui[/a] at the other kept the attacks at bay, and it was the former who came closest to opening the scoring for the Netherlands, when he stung [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bono-bounou-yassine/ne0lafKc/"]Yassine Bounou[/a]’s fingertips with a rising drive as the first half edged to a close. Saibari might also be wondering how he failed to connect to Achraf Hakimi’s stoppage-time free-kick which fizzed in and evaded everyone.[/p][image alt="Momentum" id="3641d119-a5bd-492f-b240-f942f43bc8d6" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="c53b983b-e9f3-4776-b290-55bed21d2832" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]A promising Moroccan move at the start of the second half deserved better than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bouaddi-ayyoub/dpoNasPg/"]Ayyoub Bouaddi[/a]’s lazy finish, but the underdogs continued to create openings. Shortly afterwards, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]Brahim Díaz[/a] was crowded out when well placed, and Hakimi hit the bar with a ferocious shot as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] eased through the gears.[/p][p]The Netherlands also needed van de Ven’s pace to save them with Hakimi clean through, but despite an astonishing 84% possession as the hour mark approached, the Atlas Lions still couldn’t get their noses in front. [/p][p]On 71, they were made to pay as Summerville collected a flick on from substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weghorst-wout/tpWMDFoL/"]Wout Weghorst[/a], before squaring under pressure to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a],[b] and he made no mistake with a low drive despite the close attention of the Moroccan defenders. [/b][/p][p]The latter stages saw Morocco attempt to claw themselves back into the game, and as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, [b]a stunning cross from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/talbi-chemsdine/Ayswm5ri/"]Chemsdine Talbi[/a] was met by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diop-issa/Eyqbicqr/"]Issa Diop[/a] and Verbruggen was left clutching at thin air as the ball hit the back of the net. [/b][/p][p]The first period of extra-time was most notable for the save of the tournament from Verbruggen, as he somehow kept out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahimi-soufiane/OYfFre1D/"]Soufiane Rahimi[/a]’s shot from point-blank range. To both sides’ credit, they continued to look for a way to win the game, but with no further goals scored, it would be down to the lottery of penalties to decide the winner.[/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="d2952dfb-54bc-4ca2-9bd3-4fb8b0d2ec71" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="c3fa7bc7-e89f-47e3-9351-b4d0793f75bc" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]El Aynaoui’s miss handed the Netherlands an early advantage, but that was quickly wiped out when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kluivert-justin/fq4lU5sI/"]Justin Kluivert[/a] hit the base of the post.[/p][p]Verbruggen looked to have saved Rahimi’s spot-kick before inadvertently knocking the ball over the line as he fell, and after a couple of successful despatches from either side, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-quinten/Ag97KtSd/"]Quinten[/a] Timber dragged his penalty wide. Hakimi, incredibly, hit the post, and when Summerville also missed thanks to Bounou’s one-handed save, it was left to Saibari to send Morocco through. [/p][p]The result means an end to the Netherlands’ recent 11 game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures, whilst Morocco’s third-ever appearance in the knockout stages of a World Cup will continue for at least one more match.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a] (Morocco)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/morocco-IDKYO3R8/netherlands-WYintcWb/?mid=S0MygXWj"]Review all of the match stats on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]