Morocco reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first
time, as they ousted former winners Spain on penalties in a
gripping Round of 16 game.
The last African side left in World Cup 2022 defended
superbly throughout and had two golden chances to win it in
extra time — Walid Cheddira twice going close.
It mattered little, though, as Spain failed with their first three
spot-kicks in the shootout, leaving Achraf Hakimi to
nervelessly convert the decisive kick with an audacious
Panenka chip, and send his team through to a meeting with
Portugal or Switzerland in the third quarterfinal on Saturday.
The pattern of the game was established from the first whistle,
Spain dominating possession but struggling to find a way
through a disciplined Morocco backline.
Luis Enrique’s side had almost 70 percent of the ball in the
first 45 minutes but went no closer than Marco Asensio’s shot
into the side-netting, with Gavi and Ferran Torres both denied
in the same move by spectacular blocks, although the offside
flag was already up.
Morocco’s gameplan was clearly to soak up pressure and try
to hit the Spanish on the break, Noussair Mazraoui’s fierce
shot from range stinging the palms of Unai Simon, before
Nayef Aguerd, unmarked at the far post, headed over a golden
chance created by the trickery of Sofiane Boufal.
The same pattern continued into the second period, Morocco
goalkeeper Yassine Bounou reacting smartly to push away
Dani Olmo free-kicks at either end of the half, while Alvaro
Morata fizzed a shot across the face of the goal shortly after
his introduction.
Morocco had the two best chances of the first period of extra
time, Cheddira first being denied by Aymeric Laporte’s
challenge and then the right leg of Simon, but it was the
African side’s superb defending at the other end that proved
crucial.
Pablo Sarabia hit the post with Spain’s first kick of the
shootout before Bounou saved from Carlos Soler and Sergio
Busquets, giving the chance for Hakimi – born in Madrid – to
convert the winning penalty with a Panenka kick.