Issa Diop's header in the 91st minute kept Morocco alive — and set up the win that ended the Netherlands' World Cup at its earliest point ever. Down to a goal scored through tears, level in stoppage time, and through on a penalty that should not have counted — Morocco’s win over the Netherlands was built on the same conviction Mohamed Ouahbi keeps repeating to his players: no one is safe, and neither are they.
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“We need to be telling ourselves that no one can stop us,” Mohamed Ouahbi said after his team’s win over the Netherlands. “Nobody is unbeatable. If we get things wrong, we’ll go home.” On Monday night, Morocco lived by that exact logic — and walked off Estadio BBVA with the Netherlands eliminated at the earliest point in their World Cup history.
Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout, sending the Dutch out 3-2 after a 1-1 draw. With the shootout tied at 2-all after four rounds, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save off Crysencio Summerville’s attempt, batting it away with his left hand. Saibari then sent the winner into the low left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the other direction. The midfielder tore off his shirt and screamed with joy as he was mobbed by teammates.
Earlier in the shootout, with Morocco trailing 1-0, Verbruggen appeared to have stopped an attempt by Soufiane Rahimi — but the goalkeeper could not secure the ball and deflected it over the line with the back of his leg.
“We know when we do everything on the pitch, it’s God that gives something back to us as well. Rahimi’s goal could have not been a goal, but it went in thankfully”. — Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco head coach
A record that finally broke
The Netherlands had reached at least the round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago in Qatar — the same tournament where Morocco made its breakthrough run to become the first African team to reach the semifinals. This year’s expanded tournament saw 32 teams reach the knockout stage for the first time. Monday night marked the Dutch side’s earliest World Cup exit on record.
It was also the third consecutive time the Netherlands has been eliminated from the World Cup in a penalty shootout, and the second shootout of this tournament — Paraguay had beaten Germany on penalties earlier the same day. The two sides entered with the highest combined ranking of any round of 32 match: Morocco sixth in the world, the Netherlands seventh.
A goal scored through tears
Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead in the 72nd minute, assisted by Summerville. After the goal, the Dutch bench ran onto the field to embrace the 27-year-old, who broke down in tears — Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, had recently announced the loss of their unborn child.
Morocco’s Issa Diop equalised in the 91st minute. Chemsdine Talbi sent a looping cross into the box from around 28 yards out on the left side, connecting with Diop for a clean header that Verbruggen had no chance to stop. Neither side created a strong scoring opportunity across 30 minutes of extra time.
The substitution that didn’t land
In the second half of extra time, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman used one of his substitutions to bring on Justin Kluivert — a decision that ultimately backfired. Kluivert became one of three Dutch players to miss a penalty in the shootout.
“The last substitution I made was to bring in Justin (Kluivert) because he’s one of the best at penalty shootouts,” Koeman said”. But he missed his penalty and that’s even more bitter for him and for us.”
What Ouahbi’s words really meant
Morocco controlled major stretches of the match while the Netherlands focused on counterattacking — a tactical choice Ouahbi, who took over as head coach in March, read as a compliment. “I think Morocco has gained everybody’s respect now”, he said. “I saw (the Netherlands’ style of play) as a form of respect”.
But respect was not the standard Ouahbi set for his team. Morocco moves on to face co-host Canada in the round of 16 on Saturday in Houston — a side the Atlas Lions previously beat 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. His message to the squad stayed the same one that carried them through Monday night: no opponent is safe, and no result is guaranteed.
- Source: The Associated Press