Morocco controlled the match for long stretches, finishing with 70% possession, 878 passes, and 11 shots, but needed a stoppage-time equaliser and penalties to finish the job. After a 1-1 draw at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties to reach the Round of 16.
Morocco are through to the Round of 16 after a tense penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. The match finished 1-1 after extra time before Morocco won 3-2 on penalties, completing a dramatic result in a game they largely controlled but nearly lost late.
Morocco Control the Match, Netherlands Strike First
The statistics pointed clearly toward Morocco. They had 70 percent possession, attempted 878 passes, completed 800 of them, took 11 shots, and put five on target. The Netherlands had only 30 percent possession, six total shots, and two efforts on goal. But knockout football does not always follow the numbers, and the Dutch took the lead in the 72nd minute when C. Gakpo scored from a C. Summerville assist.
Diop Saves Morocco in Stoppage Time
Morocco kept pushing after falling behind, using their control of possession to keep the Netherlands under pressure. Their breakthrough finally came in the 90+1 minute, when I. Diop equalised from a C. Talbi assist to make it 1-1. It was a huge moment for Morocco, turning a match that looked close to slipping away into one they could still win.
Pressure Builds Through Extra Time
Extra time brought more tension but no winning goal. The Netherlands committed 18 fouls and were caught offside three times, while Morocco committed 15 fouls and stayed disciplined in their attacking runs with zero offsides. Morocco also won eight corners compared to the Netherlands' five, another sign of how often they forced the Dutch back toward their own goal.
Morocco Hold Their Nerve from the Spot
After 120 minutes, the match went to penalties. The Netherlands had survived thanks in large part to their goalkeeper, who made five saves during the match, but Morocco were stronger in the decisive shootout. They won 3-2 on penalties to complete the comeback and move into the Round of 16.
The Statistics Tell Morocco's Story
Morocco's 70 percent possession and 878 total passes show a side that controlled the tempo from the first whistle. Their 11 total shots and five shots on goal gave them more attacking output than the Netherlands, who managed only six shots and two on target. The Dutch goalkeeper made five saves compared to Morocco's one, which underlines how much pressure the Netherlands had to absorb before the shootout.
Key Match Numbers
- Possession: Netherlands 30% - Morocco 70%
- Total shots: Netherlands 6 - Morocco 11
- Shots on goal: Netherlands 2 - Morocco 5
- Shots off goal: Netherlands 1 - Morocco 4
- Corner kicks: Netherlands 5 - Morocco 8
- Fouls: Netherlands 18 - Morocco 15
- Offsides: Netherlands 3 - Morocco 0
- Goalkeeper saves: Netherlands 5 - Morocco 1
- Total passes: Netherlands 373 - Morocco 878
- Accurate passes: Netherlands 293 - Morocco 800
- Yellow cards: Netherlands 0 - Morocco 1
- Red cards: Netherlands 0 - Morocco 0
Key Takeaways
- C. Gakpo gave the Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute from a C. Summerville assist.
- I. Diop equalised for Morocco in the 90+1 minute from a C. Talbi assist.
- Morocco had 70% possession and 11 shots, while the Netherlands managed only 6 total shots.
- The Netherlands goalkeeper made 5 saves, compared to just 1 save by Morocco's goalkeeper.
- Morocco completed 800 accurate passes from 878 total passes.
- Morocco won the penalty shootout 3-2 and advanced to the Round of 16.
- Morocco entered the knockout stage unbeaten after finishing Group C with 7 points.
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