The players of Morocco defeated the Netherlands 4:3 (0:0, 1:1, 1:1) in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA after shooting penalty kicks. After regular time in the match in Monterrey, it was 1:1. The Moroccans will face co-host Canada in the round of 16 on Saturday in Houston.
The central match of the round of 16, which, according to many experts, would be more suitable for the later part of the competition, went to the national team from North Africa after the lottery. The sixth national team in the Fifa ranking was just a few minutes before being eliminated from the World Cup, but in the extra time of the referee’s time, they equalized.
The central defender scored a header in the 91st minute to make it 1:1 after a precise pass into the penalty area Issa Diop.
This canceled out the lead of the Netherlands, the world’s seventh national team, who took the lead in the 72nd minute. At that time, after a quick counterattack, he put the ball into the net Cody Gakpo. The action took place after an intermediate break for cooling, until Gakpo masterfully extended the ball after penetrating the penalty area Crysencio Summerville.
The goal was an extremely emotional moment for the Netherlands striker, who was close to leaving the championship in recent days after the death of his unborn son with his partner Noa, but ultimately decided to stay with the team.
Morocco’s victory was confirmed by Saibari, and the Dutch tragic hero by Summerville
The Atlas lions did create a few more chances in the match, but the Dutch goalkeeper was in the right place several times Bart Verbruggen. This proved twice in the middle of the first half after shots Neil al-Aynaouja and Achraf Hakimi and especially in extra time, when he stopped a shot with his last strength To Soufian Rahimi. He had previously created some space for himself in the penalty area and then launched a powerful shot towards the goal.
But they also created their own opportunities, they were very close to the first goal in the 44th minute, when it was Micky van de Ven shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the shot was sent over the goal by the goalkeeper of Morocco Yassine Bounou.
For the Netherlands, the cooling-down break in the second half, which the coach, paid off in particular Ronald Koeman also used for two innings and sent into the game, among other things by Wout Weghurst. The change proved to be excellent as Weghorst headed a long ball in goal to Summerville just a minute later, who then lost his balance while on the ground and extended it to Gakpo.
Summerville then turned into one of the tragic heroes at the end of the match, as he was one of the three Dutchmen who were not accurate when taking penalties. His attempt in the fifth series of shots from the penalty spot was skillfully saved by Bounou. It’s before that Justin Kluivert hit the post Quinten Timber but he sent the ball completely past the right post.
Disappointed Dutch. PHOTO: Carl De Souza/Afp
The victory of Morocco in the last series was confirmed by the striker of PSV from Eindhoven Ismail Saibari. Before that, al-Aynaou and Hakimi sent their shots from the penalty spot into the frame of the goal.
This was the fourth match of the Round of 16 of the World Cup, all so far have been decided after the end of regular time. There will be three matches on Tuesday: at 19:00 Slovenian time Norway and the Ivory Coast will compete, at 23:00 there will be a match between France and Sweden, and then at 3:00 on Wednesday night there will be a match between Mexico and Ecuador.
