AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — The first World Cup held in an Arab nation has produced the first quarter-finalist from the Arab world.
Morocco became the fourth African country to reach the quarterfinals in the world’s biggest soccer tournament by beating Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw after extra time.
The Moroccans were playing their second qualifying match at a World Cup, an event that is being held in the Middle East for the first time in its nearly 100-year history.
“We feel the support of our fans, be it in Morocco or in any other country in the world,” said Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who plays for Spanish club Sevilla and saved two of the three penalties he faced in the shootout.
Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Madrid and previously played for Real Madrid, converted the decisive penalty in the shootout. Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech, who was returning to the national team after a dispute with the previous coach, also scored for Morocco.
Morocco has been the biggest surprise of the tournament and will now face Portugal or Switzerland.
Morocco, which also reached the round of 16 at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, is also the only team from outside Europe or South America to reach the quarterfinals in Qatar.
Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the only other African nations to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. None of the three advanced to the semifinals.
Morocco and Spain are close neighbors with a complex geopolitical relationship.
Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed their penalties for Spain, with Sarabia hitting the post.
Sarabia had entered the game in the final minutes of extra time, ostensibly for the penalty shootout. He replaced Nico Williams, who had also come on as a substitute earlier in the match.
“It’s my responsibility,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique, who said before the match that he had asked his players to practice 1,000 penalty kicks with their clubs. “I chose the first three penalty takers and then they could decide themselves. But the first three were my call, and I would have done the same thing again. The only thing I wished I could do was take Bounou out and put another goalie in there.”
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón saved Badr Banoun’s penalty.
Spain were knocked out by hosts Russia in a penalty shootout at the 2018 World Cup, and by Italy in last year’s Euro Cup semifinals.
“We couldn’t score… so as much as we say we deserved to win because of the chances we created and for playing more in their area, that’s not going to change anything,” Simón said. “The only thing left for us is to accept that we have been eliminated.”
It was the fifth time in a row that Spain played extra time in a knockout round of a major tournament. The team played 120 minutes against Russia and in their three qualifying games at Euro 2020.
Moroccan fans significantly outnumbered, and were louder than, the Spanish fans at Education City Stadium.
Neither team was able to create many significant scoring chances. Morocco seemed content to keep Spain in control of possession and looked to threaten on counter-attacks.
Both teams had some chances in extra time, with Spain closer to scoring with a last try from Sarabia that clipped the post.
It was the second game in the last 16 to go into extra time at this year’s World Cup. Croatia beat Japan on penalties on Monday.
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