By Glenn Moore
Morocco have become the first Arab nation to reach the last eight of the World Cup finals.
The north African country defeated Spain on penalties after a goalless draw in Doha on Tuesday (Qatar time).
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team’s fourth and winning penalty.Credit:Getty
It was the third successive major tournament in which Spain have been beaten on penalties following the 2018 World Cup and the Euros in 2021.
The winning penalty was converted by Achraf Hakimi, who was born in the Spanish capital Madrid.
That followed two spot-kick saves by goalkeeper Bono, who plays for LaLiga club Sevilla
The Atlas Lions are also the first African team into the quarter-finals since Ghana in 2010, with only Senegal (2002) and Cameroon (1990) having done so previously.
Yassine Bounou of Morocco is tossed into the air after the team’s victory.Credit:Getty
Morocco were not just the last Arab or African team left, they were the only nation from outside the customary European-South American axis that has dominated the World Cup throughout its 92-year history.
Against them were Spain, the 2010 winners, and European Championships semi-finalists. But Morocco, though in the last 16 for the first time since 1986, were not wide-eyed naifs.
All the starting XI play for European clubs, including giants such as Paris St Germain (Hakimi), Chelsea (Hakim Ziyech) and Bayern Munich (Noussair Mazraoui).
That the two nations are separated only by the 13km-wide Strait of Gibraltar, and have often been intertwined, added spice.
Spain’s Alvaro Morata (right) fights for the ball with Morocco’s Jawad El Yamiq.Credit:AP
Morocco were heavily supported and not just by their own nationals. Inside the ground their dogged and disciplined defending was cheered on and Spain’s passing carousel whistled at incessantly.
Outside the ground, following ticketless fans attempting to force access to previous Morocco games, there was heavy security, with rows of riot police on foot, with dogs, and on horseback. On several occasions they intervened as supporters tried to break through the cordon.
Those that made it inside the Education City Stadium saw Spain dominate possession without bringing a save from Bono in the opening half.
Indeed, the only save was made at the other end, Unai Simon gathering Mazraoui’s 32nd-minute 30-yard drive. That was followed ten minutes later by the best chance of the period, Nayef Aguerd heading over from Sofiane Boufal’s cross.
Spain finally had a shot on target from Dani Olmo after 55 minutes, but it was from too tight an angle to worry Bono.
Forty minutes later Olmo had the game’s next shot on target, a free-kick that went through a crowd of players deep in injury time before being palmed away by Bono.
Spain had scored in their previous 24 matches, dating back to June 2021, but the 90 minutes finished goalless and extra-time ensued.
The pattern remained the same, Spain possession, Moroccan breaks. From one of the latter Walid Cheddira, slipped in by Azzedine Ounahi, should have scored, but was denied by Simon.
Spain’s best chance came with the very last kick, Pablo Sarabia, a 119th-minute sub, striking the post from a tight angle.
A few minutes later Sarabia struck the other post, Spain’s first penalty failure. Bono then saved from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets before Hakimi put Morocco through.
AAP
