CNN —
Morocco continued their impressive run in Qatar 2022, beating Spain on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
Spain missed all three penalties as Moroccan goalkeeper Bono became the penalty shoot-out hero, saving attempts from Sergio Busquets and Carlos Soler while Pablo Sarabia hit the post.
Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Spain, buried the winning penalty with the cheekiest Panenkas, gently smacking the ball into the center of the goal to send the thousands of Moroccan fans at the Bildungsstadion to dreamland.
The defeat for Spain continues their pathetic World Cup record since lifting the trophy in 2010, with La Roja recording just three tournament victories – against Australia, Iran and Costa Rica – in the three editions since that triumph.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Spain coach Luis Enrique said he gave his players “homework” to practice 1,000 penalties at their clubs a year ago, but as the heat of battle mounted, Busquets, Soler and Sarabia cracked under the pressure together.
Not so Hakimi, who sparked wild scenes on the pitch with his nervous dink as the Paris Saint-Germain full-back was mobbed by his team-mate and coaching staff, who were celebrating Morocco becoming the first Arab nation to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
This Moroccan team was a revelation at this tournament. Defending valiantly and attacking with panache, fans of the North African national team will have every right to be confident of getting past either Switzerland or Portugal in the next round and making even more history.
Spain achieved arguably the most striking result of the opening round, beating Costa Rica 7-0 in an absolutely dominant performance to catch the eye of all other World Cup contenders.
However, in the next two games, Spain stuttered to a draw with Germany and then were shocked by Japan to eventually qualify for the round of 16 in second place behind Samurai Blue.
So Morocco could be forgiven for feeling a little miffed about taking Spain in the knockout stages after qualifying comfortably at the top of their group.
But the Atlas Lions are undoubtedly among the most impressive players in Qatar to date and will rightly have had no fears ahead of this clash against La Roja.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui had told his players before this game to ‘aim for the sky’ and they started the game with an intensity that showed they were not intimidated by the situation or their World Cup opponents .
The red Moroccan jerseys went into tackles within 30 seconds, never letting the Spanish players rest on the ball for a moment.
The Moroccan fans – who were among the best in Qatar and made every game feel almost like a home game – reacted loudly, shouting at every Moroccan tackle and jeering loudly every time Spain had possession.
Morocco also looked like the most dangerous team in the opening 20 minutes, causing Spain’s defensive problems at the break when one of those counterattacks forced Busquets to bring down Sofiane Boufal.
Hakimi, who was born in Spain to Moroccan parents, flashed the ensuing free-kick over Unai Simón’s bar.
Perhaps Morocco’s early dominance made their players overconfident as a casual passing game from behind resulted in a glorious chance in front of goal for Gavi, but goalkeeper Bono recovered brilliantly and deflected the striker’s shot off the bar, unaware that the Linesman’s flag off was offside.
It was a first warning for Morocco that any lack of focus could be punished at any moment by Spain’s talented front line.
Just three minutes before half-time, Morocco had the best chance of the game so far.
Created by outsider Boufal, who had an impressive game, his cross was headed over the bar at the far post by Naif Aguerd, who should have at least found his shot.
As brilliant as Morocco had been in the first half and ending the first 45 minutes with a bang, Spain had been disappointing. As is so often the case at this World Cup, Enrique’s team had significantly more possession of the ball, but above all sluggish passes from 10 meters away from the Moroccan penalty area.
At half-time, Enrique would have had a few specific words to his players, which came out much more intensely in the second third.
Morocco barely touched the ball in the attacking half as the light blue Spain shirts swarmed their opponents whenever the ball was lost.
Although the Moroccan defense certainly looked stronger – Aguerd once put up a brilliant tackle on Alvaro Morata in the penalty area – for all of Spain’s possession, which reached a staggering 85% in the second half, Bono was the Moroccan goal wasn’t seriously worried just yet.
It wasn’t until the 81st minute that Spain had their first notable chance when substitute Nico Williams’ through ball put Morata away, but the striker’s shot over goal was poked out by Bono’s toe as no other Spanish player came close to the Moroccan Tor’s was.
It seemed more and more inevitable that this game would go into overtime but Spain had one last chance to win it. Dani Olmo’s cross into the box missed Williams’ toe by millimeters and Bono punched the ball back for a corner.
In the predictably slow first half of extra time, Morocco had a great opportunity to take the lead but substitute Walid Cheddira found Simón straight after being put through one-for-one by Hakim Ziyech.
Curiously, Spain finally seemed to wake up in the final moments of extra time, putting pressure on the Moroccan goal until Rodri’s brilliant cross found Sarabia uncovered in the box, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker hit his volley at the far post.
Sarabia found himself regretting that miss as his night grew worse, hitting his penalty in a penalty shoot-out against the post with Spain’s first try.
It boded for Spain as Busquets and Soler also failed to score.
Although Badr Banoune missed his penalty for Morocco, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Ziyech and then, the coolest of them all, Hakimi buried their penalties to cement their place in Moroccan football folklore.