MOROCCO KNOCK OUT SPAIN ON PENALTIES

Here are highlights of the round of 16 matches on Day 17 of the Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

Morocco vs Spain: Yassine Bounou came to Morocco’s rescue in penalties, as they defeated Spain to qualify for the quarter-finals. Follow here Highlights of MAR vs ESP Round of 16 football match, straight from Education City Stadium in Qatar.

Yassine Bounou was in fantastic form as Morocco secured a 3-0 win vs Spain in penalties after the Round of 16 match ended as 0-0 in extra-time of their FIFA World Cup 2022 encounter, at the Education City Stadium in Qatar. The match saw plenty of misses from Walid Cheddira and Alvaro Morata as it entered penalties. In the shootout, Sevilla goalkeeper Bounou came out on top to block Soler and Busquets after Sarabia missed Spain’s first attemmpt. Meanwhile, a panenka by Achraf Hakimi sealed the victory for Morocco, who also entered their first-ever quarter-finals.

Although Spain maintained a staggering 75 percent ball possession, Morocco somehow didn’t allow them to score a goal. Despite dominating throughout the duration of 90 minutes and stoppage time, Spain failed to find a goal. Spain’s confidence looked a little down after their defeat to Japan.

The match went into extra time where, yet again, both teams failed to score a goal. In the end, just like the game between Croatia and Japan ended, Spain and Morocco’s fate depended on the penalty shootout. Spain got close to scoring on quite a few instances, but the rub of the green didn’t go their way.

Abdelhamid Sabiri opened the scoring for Morroco, after which Pablo Sarabia missed for Spain. It was also for the first time that the first penalty striker for Spain missed in a World Cup match shootout. Hakim Ziyech scored to take Morocco 2-0 up. Thereafter, Bono made a brilliant save and took Morocco close to a historic triumph.