The heroic performance of Yassine Bounou in penalties helped Morocco beat Spain 3-0 in the Round of 16 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022. With the win, Morocco became the fourth African side to reach the quarter-final of a World Cup tournament, after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010. Also, Morocco became the first African nation to win a penalty shoot-out at the World Cup.
Morocco qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time after beating Spain. Spain has been eliminated in three of their last 4 games in the Round of 16, losing on penalties in each of the last 2 editions. The previous one was with Russia in 2018.
On Tuesday at the Education City Stadium, the match between Spain and Morocco had gone into extra time with the sides ending 0-0 after 90 minutes. Failing to convert even a single spot kick, the match goes to a penalty shoot-out.
Plenty of misses were shown from Walid Cheddera and Alvaro Morata in the game and that led to the penalties. Morocco goalkeeper Bounou came out on top to block some amazing Spanish shots that marked history for Morocco.
Before the extra time, Enrique makes a change as substitute Williams makes way for Sarabia, with penalties in mind. Sarabia was in few inches away from a winner after a cross from the left saw him in the far post in the final minute. But his kick deflected off the post.
Then the game goes for a penalty. In Penalty No. 1, Sabirir sends the ball to the right and Simon goes the other side, giving Morocco a 1-0 lead. On Spain’s first penalty, Sarabia goes for a bottom-right corner. Bounou dives there but the ball hits the post.
For Morocco, Ziyech steps forward and shoots straight, but Simon goes to the right this time, giving Morocco a 2-0 lead in the game. In return, Spain missed another penalty as Soler sends the ball to the right, and Bounou dived to save it.
On the 3rd one, Simon makes the stop as Morocco failed to convert their chance to a goal, continuing at 2-0. But Spain once again failed to make a goal as Basquets shoots to the left and Bounou dives there to block it.
Then Achraf Hakimi steps in for Morocco as Spain’s World Cup hopes hang by a thread. A paneka by Hakimi sealed the victory for Morocco as they were into the Super 8.
Morocco created history by defeating one-time champions Spain on penalties. Goal-keeper Yassine Bounou’s amazing form helped Morocco win the exciting Super 16 round.
