After defeating 2010 winner Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout, African country Morocco entered the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After goalkeeper Yassin Bono became the hero and saved two penalties, Morocco secured their place in the last eight. Morocco has also become the fourth African team to reach the quarterfinals in World Cup history. Earlier, Cameroon, Senegal, and Ghana had reached the quarter-finals at different times.
At the Education City Stadium in Doha, Morocco held Spain to a draw for 120 minutes without allowing a goal to be scored. Abdelhamid Sabiri, Hakim Ziach, and Achraf Hakimi scored for Morocco in the penalty. The shot of the borderer was saved by the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simeon.
No one from the 2010 world champion Spain was able to score. Carlos Soler and captain Sergio Busquets’ shots were saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Bono. Pablo Sarabia’s shot went off the post. Before that, the game went to a penalty shootout after both sides failed to score in the scheduled 90 minutes and 30 minutes of additional time.
In the last minute of extra time, Spain’s Pablo Sarabia missed a good chance to score, but Spain came close to winning. At the last moment, his shot hit the pole and went out. Even before that, both teams had some good scoring opportunities. But the finish could not be done. Similarly, Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon and Morocco’s Yassin Bono also made some good saves.
This is the second match in the ongoing World Cup where the result was decided by a penalty shootout. Earlier, Croatia defeated Japan in a penalty shootout and qualified for the quarterfinals. Morocco will play the winner of the match between Portugal and Switzerland at midnight today for a place in the semi-finals.