Morocco beat Spain in penalty shootout to reach final World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history on Tuesday after the match ended 0–0.
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Spanish-born Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive spot-kick to deny Spain all three of his attempts. A product of the Real Madrid youth system, Hakimi calmly converted his penalty against Unai Simon in Spain’s goal to secure Morocco’s 3–0 victory in the shootout.
During more than 90 minutes of extra time, Spain dominated possession but failed to create many clear chances against a stubborn Moroccan defence.
Morocco has been the biggest surprise of the tournament and will next face either Portugal or Switzerland.
Morocco is the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight. It is the only Arab – and African – nation left in the tournament.
Spain were hoping they could repeat their 2010 World Cup triumph after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2020, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.
There was a close encounter between the teams, with Spain having more of the ball but Morocco making the better start, although they were few.
Luis Enrique tested his third right-back of the tournament in Marcos Llorente, and benched the team’s top-scorer Álvaro Morata for Marco Asensio after the shock defeat to Japan.
Spain monopolized the ball, with the Moroccan fans booing furiously as their team was denied possession.
Morocco, the last African and Arab side standing in the first World Cup held in an Arab country, were overwhelmingly supported and their fans far outnumbered those of Spain.
With La Rosa playing in a second strip of light blue, they looked like the away team on hostile territory.
Gavi, who at the age of 18 years and 123 days became the youngest player to start a World Cup knockout game since Brazilian great Pele in 1958, rose to the occasion.
The Barcelona midfield terrier was at his most intense, smashing into challenges left, right and centre, even diving in to make one with his head.
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bouno lofted a Gavi strike over the crossbar, although it would have been ruled offside, while Asensio drilled into the side-netting, although Spain made little progress.
Regargui’s side sat defensively deep and threatened on the counter, with Unai Simon beating Noussair Mazrouei’s long-range effort.
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Sofiane Boufal, who crossed Llorente like sand was slipping through the Spaniard’s fingers, gave the best chance of the half for Nayef Aguird, who went over by inches.
Bauno lofted Dani Olmo’s attack away from an angle as the tension mounted after the break.
Luis Enrique fumed at Rodri for making the wrong choices on the ball, and withdrew a stubborn and foul-mouthed Gavi for Carlos Soler.
He also fouled Morata, giving Spain a focal point up top, but they struggled to supply him as Morocco sat deeper and deeper.
Another substitute, Nico Williams, found the Atlético Madrid striker at one point but the angle was too tight and he hit a shot across the face of the goal.
Bauno made a fine save from Olmo’s free-kick as it was tripped almost all the way, with Spain finally creating strong chances as the game went awry moments before extra-time.
In the extra period Morocco responded by finding stability and testing Simon, who made a fine save with his feet to deny Walid Chedira after breaking into Spain’s left flank.
Despite heavy pressure by Spain in the last minutes before the penalty, they could not trouble the Sevilla goalkeeper again, with Pablo Sarabia clipping the outside of the post although he may have been offside.
Serbia struck the post again from Spain’s first penalty after Abdelhamid Sabiri had sent the Moroccan forward through, apparently having been sent off for the shoot-out.
Soler and Busquets missed, while Hakim Ziyech scored before Hakimi netted to ignite wild celebrations against his birth country.
(with inputs from agencies)
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