For the first time ever, Morocco has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals after Spain missed three penalties in a nail-biting shootout that followed a 120-minute scoreless draw.
Spain’s attack flaws were exposed when they were finally eliminated with just one shot on target throughout the entire game, their lowest-ever total in a World Cup game.
Nayef Aguerd of West Ham, missed a close-range header to waste Morocco’s finest opportunity of the first half. After a dull second half, Morocco’s substitute Walid Cheddira was denied one-on-one by Unai Simon in extra time, while Spain’s Pablo Sarabia missed the post with a volley in the dying seconds.
After Bono saved the penalty kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets and Sarabia twice hit the post with Spain’s first attempt, Achraf Hakimi calmly chipped the winning penalty down the middle to put Morocco through.
Despite having 77% of the ball and making 926 precise passes, Luis Enrique’s team was unable to overcome a tenacious Morocco. Spain struggled the entire game. Bono pushed Gavi’s shot against the crossbar, and Ferran Torres’ follow-up shot was stopped in the six-yard box, but the offside flag was still raised.
The first period’s greatest start belonged to Marco Asensio, who grabbed a pass in front of the Moroccan defence and volleyed it into the side netting.
As Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat excelled at the centre of their midfield and Aguerd and Romain Saiss gave commanding centre-back displays in the second half, Spain’s frustration level increased.
After Abdelhamid Sabiri had given Morocco the lead, he struck the post with his penalty just a few moments later, sidefooting it off the right post. By doubling their lead, Hakim Ziyech and Bono brought them further closer to victory.
However, Simon managed to keep Badr Benoun out to keep Spain in the game despite Bono’s second delivery, quickly stopping captain Busquets before Hakimi audaciously won it with a Panenka.