Although Morocco had a strong front line and a strong defense, their major strength resided in their confidence that they can defeat championship rival Spain and make World Cup history.
After 120 minutes of play ended without a goal for either team, Morocco, the only Arab nation and the last African team left in the World Cup, managed to defeat the 2010 champions 3-0 on penalties.
Morocco will meet Portugal, who thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in their Round of 16 encounter yesterday, in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
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As coach Walid Regragui said Morocco will take on mighty Spain with the “winners’ attitude”, the Atlas Lions – backed by huge cheers from their fans at Education City Stadium – were charged-up from the start not letting goal-hungry Spain move freely in their area.
Morocco’s Yassine Bounou saves a penalty missed by Spain’s Carlos Soler. Reuters
They were well organised in defence with the players ready to scare coach Luis Enrique’s defence at times in a match that saw a few chances.
The North Africans, who conceded only one goal and that too an own-goal in the group stage, showed defensive class with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou rising to the occasion in the shootout.
Bounou blocked Barragan Carlos Soler’s shot after Pablo Sarabia hit the post in Spain’s first spot kick, giving Morocco an instant 2-0 lead after Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech were on target in their attempts.
After goalkeeper Unai Simon gave Spain hopes of a comeback by stopping Badr Benoun’s attempt, Bounou blocked a Sergio Busquets hit by diving to his right, with Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi inflicting a final blow to his country of birth to seal Morocco’s most memorable victory to date.
“I will not sleep tonight,” Moroccan hero Bounou, said after the match.
“We wanted to make history and now we want to reach far in the tournament. We are so happy to delight people of Morocco, Arab world and Africa.”
“We played with a great fighting spirit against a side of highest quality and I am happy with the performance I presented in the match and in the penalty shootout,” the Sevilla goalkeeper added.
It is the first time the Atlas Lions have reached the quarter-final of the global tournament, having advanced to the knockout stage only once back in 1986 when they were beaten in last 16 by West Germany.
They became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight.
Morocco also became only the fourth African team to reach that stage after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.
The historic win followed joyous celebrations among fans, who were creating deafening sound throughout the match to back their team, with players lifting their coach in jubilation.
It was a competitive first half with compact Morocco defence not allowing spaces in final third of the pitch to Spain, who had enjoyed a better ball possession.
The Africans made three attempts before the break as they looked impressive in the set pieces. Hakimi took a good hit from a free kick in a decent area that just flew over the bar.
With their fans creating a cauldron-like atmosphere, Noussair Mazraoui after winning the ball from Ferran Torres hit a powerful strike from a distance saved by Simon.
Morocco had an opportunity three minutes before half-time when Nayef Aguerd headed the ball over the bar after a cross from Sofiane Boufal.
Spain’s only proper chance in the first session came in 27th minute when Marco Asensio surged into the left side of the box smashing ball into the side-netting.
The La Roja came back after the break more aggressive knowing they needed a special performance to crack the Moroccan defence.
After Asensio rolled a free kick on left, Dani Olmo took Spain’s first shot on target which was palmed away by Bounou.
Enrique sent in Alvaro Morata, who scored in each of his last three World Cup appearances, after an hour of play and the Atlético Madrid forward came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
Morocco, who spent most of the time in the second half defending Spain’s attacks, created a few late chances after Regragui made three changes with seven minutes left.
Olmo almost found the goal as his free kick on target in last minute of stoppage time was kept out by a focused Bounou, who took Morocco into extra time for the first time in their World Cup history.
Morocco had their best chance of the match in the first half of extra time as substitute Walid Cheddira after receiving a ball from Azzedine Ounahi took a shot from 10 yards but he fired straight at Simon’s legs.
There was more thrill before the shootout as Cheddira stormed into the box again in 114th bringing spectators up on their feet but he was stopped by Spanish defence.
After Morata gave the Africans a scare with a surge, Sarabia, who came off the bench just two minutes before penalties, almost scored the last-gasp winner but his hit struck the bar before Morocco showed their brilliance in the shootout to make history.
“The penalties cost us but I am proud of my team,” lamented Enrique, who before the match said his team needed to take 1,000 penalties in training.
“I take all the responsibility because I chose the first three takers and the players decided the rest — we didn’t get to the fourth. Bounou is a great goalkeeper when it comes to penalties and today he was superb.”
