Morocco beat Spain on penalties to reach World Cup quarterfinals
Morocco became the first Arab nation to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals, beating Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout in Qatar.
Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets missed their penalties for Spain, with Sarabia hitting the post and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stopping the other two.
The teams drew 0-0 after extra time.
Morocco have been the biggest surprise of the tournament and will next face either Portugal or Switzerland on Sunday.
The African nation are the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight in Qatar and have done so for the first time in their history. They had only reached the round of 16 once before – at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Spain were eliminated by hosts Russia in a penalty shootout at the 2018 World Cup and by Italy in the semifinals of last year’s European Championships.
It was the fifth successive time Spain played extra time in a knockout round of a major tournament. They played 120 minutes against Russia and in all three of their knockout games at Euro 2020.
Moroccan fans significantly outnumbered – and were louder – than the Spaniards at Education City Stadium.
Spain and Morocco are close neighbours with a complex geopolitical relationship.
