Morocco Stun Netherlands on Penalties to Reach Round of 16
Morocco eliminated the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, knocking out another European heavyweight on the same night Paraguay ended Germany's World Cup.
M orocco are through to the Round of 16 after beating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey on June 29-30. The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Issa Diop's goal deep into stoppage time forcing the shootout and sending Morocco through in one of the tournament's great upsets.
Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands in front in the 72nd minute, and it looked as though the Dutch would advance comfortably. Diop equalised in the 91st minute to stun the Oranje and bring Morocco back into the tie. In the shootout, Teun Koopmeiners and Wout Weghorst converted for the Netherlands, but Soufiane Rahimi, Chemsdine Talbi and Ismael Saibari all scored for Morocco to seal a 3-2 victory.
The Netherlands are eliminated. Morocco advance to the Round of 16, where they will face another side from the bottom half of the draw. This is the second consecutive World Cup in which Morocco have beaten a major European nation on penalties.