
Sports
Morocco beat Netherlands in dramatic penalty shoot-out
June 30, 2026
Source: SkySports | News · Read on source site
Netherlands vs Morocco. FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
>Match report as Morocco beat Netherlands to reach the World Cup last 16; Cody Gakpo had given Netherlands the lead but Issa Diop's stoppage-time header sent the tie to extra time and penalties; Morocco triumphed in a dramatic shootout to set up a last-16 clash with co-hosts Canada
>Morocco secured their spot in the World Cup last 16 after beating Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw in Monterrey, Mexico.
>Morocco edged past the Dutch 3-2 on penalties to set up a last-16 showdown with Canada on Saturday, with Ismael Saibari claiming the decisive goal after Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's penalty and multiple missed opportunities and saves on both sides.
>It came after Cody Gakpo had given Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute following a superb break from Summerville. What followed were emotional scenes as Gakpo wiped away the tears, days after the 27-year-old and his partner Noa van der Bij announced they had experienced the loss of their unborn son.
>Momentum had shifted again and it looked likely Gakpo's goal would be the decisive one, but a cross in the 90th minute found a charging Issa Diop, whose header found the corner of the goal and ensured the match would go into extra time.
>Morocco created the best chance of the extra 30 minutes and looked certain to take the lead when Soufiane Rahimi was one-on-one with Bart Verbruggen, but the Dutch goalkeeper was somehow able to deflect the shot from point-blank range in what was the save of the tournament so far.
>However, he could not repeat the heroics in the shoot-out as Netherlands became the second European side to be heading home on penalties in a matter of hours after Germany's shock penalty defeat to Paraguay.
>72: GOAL! Gakpo broke the deadlock, sparking emotional celebrations from Netherlands.
>World Cup 2026 schedule - your day-by-day guide
>90+1: GOAL! Diop grabbed a dramatic equaliser as Morocco sent the tie to extra time.
>96: SAVE! Verbruggen produced the save of the tournament to deny Rahimi from point-blank range.
>PENALTIES! Shoot-out drama as Netherlands missed three penalties and Morocco missed two.
>PENALTIES! Saibari eventually scored the winning penalty as Morocco set up a last-16 clash with Canada.
>"Ronald Koeman is going to have questions to answer as Netherlands failed to reach the last 16 for a World Cup they have competed in for the first time since 2006.
>"His side had looked a real threat in the group stages, scoring 10 goals, including a 5-1 win over Sweden.
>"However, a switch to a back five against Morocco saw them surrender possession as the African side dominated the game.
>"Gakpo's goal and Verbruggen's heroics almost got the Dutch out of trouble but in the end, Koeman's set-up and his defensive changes eventually saw them come unstuck.
>"Koeman's tactics will now surely come into question as Netherlands' disappointing exit is analysed. The negative set-up completely backfired as Netherlands' agonising wait for World Cup glory goes on."
>"A really tough game against a really tough opponent. One of the best opponents you can face in the world. It's a top 10 in the world, I think a contender to eventually win the World Cup.
>"The way that we managed to win today is a huge acknowledgement for us as a national team."