Morocco stun Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup last 16
Morocco are through to the World Cup last 16 after a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, setting up a Saturday showdown with co-hosts Canada.
It was a night of late twists, missed chances, and raw emotion in front of a roaring crowd. The Atlas Lions will now face Canada on Saturday with a quarter-final spot on the line.
Gakpo’s opener, then heartbreak and hope
The Netherlands looked set to control the tie when Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. The 27-year-old finished off a superb counter-attack started by Crysencio Summerville, who sliced through Morocco’s midfield before slipping the ball across.
For Gakpo, the goal was deeply personal. Just days earlier, he and his partner Noa van der Bij shared the news that they had lost their unborn son. He wiped away tears after scoring, with Dutch teammates gathering around him in a moment that paused the stadium.
Morocco, however, refused to fold. With the clock deep into stoppage time, defender Issa Diop rose highest in the 90+1 minute to power home a header and force extra time. The equalizer sparked wild celebrations and sent the match into 30 more minutes.
Extra time: Saves, misses, and ‘the save of the tournament’
Extra time was end-to-end and tense. The standout moment came in the 96th minute when Dutch goalkeeper Mark Verbruggen produced what many are calling the save of the tournament so far, denying Youssef Rahimi from point-blank range to keep it level.
Both sides had opportunities to win it before penalties but couldn’t convert, with goalkeepers and last-ditch defending keeping the score at 1-1.
Shootout drama sends Morocco through
The penalties were chaos. The Netherlands missed three of their spot-kicks, while Morocco missed two. The tension dragged on until Ismael Saibari stepped up and calmly converted the winner. Yassine Bounou was key for Morocco, saving Summerville’s penalty to swing momentum. The Sevilla keeper’s composure under pressure proved decisive as Morocco edged the shootout 3-2.
What’s next
Walid Regragui’s side now turn their attention to Canada on Saturday in the last 16. It’s another tough test, but Morocco arrive with momentum, belief, and a defense that showed it can handle pressure when it matters most.
For the Netherlands, the exit is painful. They had the lead, the chances, and Gakpo’s emotional strike, but couldn’t close it out. Summerville’s late penalty miss summed up a night where fine margins decided everything.
Morocco’s run continues, and the Atlas Lions are now two wins from a first-ever World Cup quarter-final.
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