Morocco refused to go quietly. Down a goal with seconds ticking away in injury time, Issa Diop rose to meet a cross and headed home the equalizer that would ultimately break Dutch hearts. The 1-1 draw after extra time gave way to a penalty shootout, and Morocco converted when it mattered most, winning 3-2 from the spot to book a round of 16 date with Canada.
The match, played on June 29 in Monterrey, Mexico, was one of those games that felt like two completely different stories stitched together at the 90th minute.
A tale of two halves (and then some)
The opening 70-plus minutes were a study in frustration for Morocco. The Atlas Lions had possession, had chances, but couldn’t find the breakthrough against a well-organized Dutch backline anchored by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who made multiple standout saves throughout the match.
Then Cody Gakpo happened. The Dutch striker found the back of the net in the 72nd minute to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead.
