The World Cup knockout stage has commenced with a series of dramatic matches in the Round of 32. Monday’s games featured intense competition, including two penalty shootouts, leading to the advancement of Morocco and Paraguay, while Germany and the Netherlands exited the tournament.
One of the most anticipated matchups saw Morocco defeat the Netherlands in a penalty shootout after the game ended in a 1-1 tie. The match, described as frantic and consistently physical, saw neither team break the deadlock in the first half. Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made back-to-back saves early on, keeping his team in contention. The Netherlands eventually took a 1-0 lead in the 71st minute with a goal from Cody Gakpo. However, Morocco leveled the score in stoppage time with a header from Issa Diop in the 91st minute, sending the game into extra time.
During extra time, Verbruggen again proved crucial, making an incredible save to block a shot from Soufiane Rahimi that looked to be a sure goal for Morocco. Despite both teams showing signs of fatigue, the score remained 1-1 after 120 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout. Before the shootout, Morocco‘s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, was seen in a circle with his team, appearing to pray.
In the penalty shootout, the Netherlands kicked first, with Teun Koopmeiners scoring. Morocco‘s first attempt by Neil El Aynaoui hit the crossbar. The shootout continued with Justin Kluivert missing for the Netherlands, and Soufiane Rahimi scoring for Morocco after Verbruggen initially saved it but lost his grip. Wout Weghorst scored for the Netherlands, followed by Chemsdine Talbi for Morocco, tying the score at 2-2. Quinten Timber then missed for the Netherlands, sending his shot wide left. Achraf Hakimi, Morocco‘s captain, also missed, hitting the post. Ultimately, Ismael Saibari scored the decisive penalty for Morocco, securing their 3-2 victory in the shootout and advancing them to the next round.
The win for Morocco means they will face Canada in the Round of 16 in Houston on Saturday. This marks a significant moment for Morocco, as the Netherlands, despite not losing a World Cup match in regulation since 2010, has a history of exiting tournaments in extra time or on penalty kicks. Previous instances include losses to Argentina on penalty kicks in the 2014 semifinals and 2022 quarterfinals.
Earlier in the day, Brazil secured a 2-1 victory over Japan. Japan initially took the lead with a 29th-minute goal from Kaishu Sano. However, Brazil‘s Casemiro equalized just after halftime, and Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal in stoppage time, ensuring Brazil‘s progression.
Another thrilling encounter saw Paraguay upset Germany. Their match also ended in a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout. Paraguay emerged victorious with a 4-3 win on penalties, with goalkeeper Orlando Gill making several saves and José Canale sealing the win from the spot. This result means Germany, like the Netherlands, has been eliminated from the tournament earlier than anticipated.
The initial four games of the knockout rounds have been noted for their intensity, with two matches decided in stoppage time and two going to penalty shootouts. The Round of 32 continues with three more matches scheduled for Tuesday. These include Ivory Coast versus Norway in Arlington, Texas, France playing Sweden in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Mexico hosting Ecuador in Mexico City.
Read Also
Source: sports.yahoo.com
