Morocco refused to go quietly. Trailing by a goal with the clock running out at Estadio BBVA Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, the Atlas Lions found a way back, as they so often do, and walked away from Sunday’s Round of 32 clash with the Netherlands with a hard-earned 1-1 draw.
The Netherlands broke the deadlock through Cody Gakpo in the 72nd minute. Gakpo gave the Dutch what looked like a decisive advantage with roughly twenty minutes left to play.
Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Chemsdine Talbi picked out defender Issa Diop, who converted to make it 1-1 and send a large portion of Estadio BBVA Monterrey into chaos.
Morocco had arrived at this match in compelling form. Their previous result, a draw against Brazil, suggested a team comfortable operating in high-pressure environments against elite opposition.
The Netherlands entered as group winners. They controlled long stretches of the match and, but for Diop’s intervention, would have advanced with a relatively comfortable margin of victory.
