Netherlands
– Morocco – 1:1 (Gakpo, 72, – Diop, 90+1). Penalty shootout 2:3.
Why is
reaching the 1/8 finals of Morocco not a sensation? Not only because the Atlas
Lions beat Spain at the last World Cup. In Qatar, following Spain, the
Moroccans forced Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo to pack their bags, and they
beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
And anyway,
Mohamed Wabi has a pretty combative cast. Team captain and defender Ashraf
Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League. The author of
the return goal, Issa Diop, plays for Fulham, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat plays
for Real Betis, and forward Braim Diaz is at the heart of Real Madrid. Nussair
Mazraoui plays for Manchester United, the Premier League bronze medalist. It's
just offhand.
Therefore,
Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo's goal from a pass by Crisencio Summerville in the
72nd minute was not a problem for Morocco. Although how did Sammervil, who fell
in the penalty area, manage to push the ball onto the Gakpo while lying down?
Miracle. As was the goal itself from Cody, who managed to push the ball into
the net in an instant.
In the
return goal, one of the substitutes from Wabi played – Shamseddin Talbi, a
Sunderland player, came out in the 86th minute instead of Leicester player
Bilal El-Hannus, performed an assist on Issa Diop's head. Talby could have
become the hero of the match twice, but after his one-on-one, Talby dodged Ten
Kopmainers out of the way, but Bart Verbruggen, the Brighton goalkeeper,
knocked the ball away with his knee on the corner.
The Dutch
started the penalty shootout first. Kopmainers made the score 1-0, but Neil El
Aynaoui charged with all his might into the crossbar. Patrick Kluivert's son
Justin Kluivert also hit the bar, only laterally. Bart Verbruggen pulled out a
very insidious shot from Sufyan Rahimi, catching it under his armpits, but
clumsily turned around and rolled it behind the line with his foot – 1:1.
Wout
Weghort hits accurately – 2:1, but Talbi is flawless – 2:2. And French Olympic
Marseille player Quinten Timber misses the goal. The infection spread to
Hakimi, the Parisian leader charged Bart Verbruggen into the side goalpost.
The
epidemic of collective stupor was continued by Crisencio Summerville. Moroccan
goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stretched his arms above him and easily deflected the
ball. So the Dutch PSV midfielder Ismael Saibari should have put an end to the
series – his goal took Morocco to the 1/8 finals! They will play Canada there
on July 4. We'll see!
