Audio By Carbonatix
Achraf Hakimi made himself a hero with a chipped winning penalty as Morocco stunned Spain in a shootout after a goalless draw to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
The two teams played out a draw after 120 minutes and Spain failed to convert any of their three penalties - goalkeeper Yaccine Bounou saving two - leaving PSG's Hakimi to win it with a nerveless 'Panenka' to spark jubilant scenes.
The north African side's fans had been making themselves heard all game but the atmosphere in the stands did not match the attritional battle on the pitch.
Spain hogged the ball and Morocco sat back plugging the gaps, with very few clear-cut chances being created.
Luis Enrique's side came closest to breaking the deadlock courtesy of Dani Olmo, who struck an arrowed drive from the angle which Bounou pushed away and the goalkeeper also did brilliantly well to keep out Olmo's dangerous free-kick late on.
Morocco were playing on the counter and should have scored in the opening period but Nayef Aguerd sent his unmarked header over, while their only shot on target came via Noussair Mazraoui's long-range drive which was gathered by Unai Simon.
With the sides not being able to be separated, the game went into extra time and substitute Walid Cheddira had Morocco's best chance, but scuffed his shot straight at Simon from eight yards out.
Spain notched over 1,000 passes in the contest and almost won it in the 123rd minute, but Pablo Sarabia's volley agonisingly flicked the outside of the far post.
Education City Stadium was filled mostly by Morocco fans, who went wild at the final whistle as their side reached the last eight for the first time, where they will face Portugal or Switzerland on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Latest Stories
-
Gov’t to establish Prison Industrial Hub to equip inmates with income-generating skills – Prison Service boss
6 minutes -
Alhassan Tampuli donates cement, roofing sheets to support storm victims in Gushegu
7 minutes -
Alhassan Tampuli appeals for urgent support for storm victims in Gushegu
10 minutes -
The hypocrisy must stop; pass Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill now – Alhassan Tampuli to Mahama
13 minutes -
Imprisonment should be rehabilitative, not punitive – Ghana Prisons boss at UNGA
35 minutes -
Ga Adangbe traditional priests petition Mahama over McDan aviation licence revocation
46 minutes -
Anti-LGBTQ Bill: NDC’s arrogance is worrying – Hassan Tampuli
57 minutes -
Let’s give OSP time to mature, not to scrap it – Hassan Tampuli
1 hour -
Nigeria convicts 386 Islamist militants in mass trials
1 hour -
Djibouti president wins election with 97.8% of vote, state media saysÂ
1 hour -
We don’t have mandate to deduct tax from rent allowance of security services personnel – Interior Ministry clarifies
1 hour -
Ablakwa receives Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations to advance global agenda
2 hours -
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II
2 hours -
Epstein survivors’ calls to meet King Charles and Queen harder to ignore as US visit approaches
2 hours -
UN Secretary-General names Ghana’s Anita Kiki Gbeho as South Sudan envoy
2 hours