CODY GAKPO deserved to score – but the Netherlands did not.
Morocco deserved to equalise and win – but for Gakpo to end up on the losing side is yet more personal heart-break.
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Ismael Saibari 11 scored the winning penalty Credit: Getty
Bart Verbruggen somehow failed to stop Soufiane Rahimi’s spot kick Credit: AFP
He could be excused for an invisible first 70 minutes – most people wouldn’t have been strong enough to even get on the pitch in the first place.
But the Liverpool star came up big for his country when they needed it most – and what a remarkable showing of willpower it was.
That it was not enough for Holland to stay at the World Cup as they crashed out is due to an aimless performance for much of this match outside of the Gakpo moment.
Because Morocco were the better side in Monterrey and looked set to prove that their run to the semis in Qatar was no fluke.
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Singing along to “No Morocco, no party” much like their group stage opponents, and doing more for Scotland‘s presence at the World Cup than Steve Clarke did, they showed why winning this game should be considered no real shock.
And the party would have been a lesser one without them from here.
The Dutch have so much defensive and midfield quality but no real clue how to score or play games with any true intent.
For a country famed for Total Football, they are closer to Total Wipeout – relying on physicality and moments more than anything consistently orchestrated.
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The African side deserved to win
Cody Gakpo scored the most popular goal of the World Cup Credit: Reuters
Issa Diop equalised for Morocco against the Netherlands in stoppage time Credit: AP
Afcon champs Morocco stood firm as the Dutch started quicker and piled pressure on – but without ever really creating a big chance.
They consistently hit Jattvibederland striker Brian Brobbey as directly as possible, using him as a target man, and tried to use his hold-up play to break through.
Yet Morocco went closest when Neil El Aynaoui’s header from a corner signalled the switch in momentum.
He powered an effort towards goal only for Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen to pull out a brilliant stop from close range.
And Verbruggen was called into action shortly after to deny Achraf Hakimi.
The PSG full-back blasted one from the right of the box after a trademark attacking venture forward and Verbruggen once again tipped it over.
Morocco began to dominate and forced their opponents back. The hydration break certainly came at a good time for manager Koeman.
After being caught out by one against Sweden earlier in the tournament, he used it to his advantage here, getting his side on the front foot once more.
It again mostly sterile possession as Morocco dropped back comfortably into their defensive shape, giving up very little, but it was an improvement of sorts.
That pattern frustrated Spurs’ Micky van de Ven, again shifted out to an unnatural left wing-back role as Koeman shifted formation into a back three.
Van de Ven ended up firing one from range and tested Yassine Bounou more than any of his team-mates. The goalie had to tip a shot over and not do much else in the opening 45.
Another blow to the head for Tottenham newbie Jan Paul van Hecke was about as big of a highlight as any for the Oranje.
Morocco were also unfortunate not to be ahead after Azzedine Ounahi lashed an effort narrowly over from distance.
The 2022 semi-finalists went even closer before the break as Hakimi’s wicked free-kick from wide evaded a crowd of bodies from both sides and somehow missed Ismael Saibari at the back post.
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When Hakimi, again, burst through early in the second-half, the Dutch were still in the changing rooms.
His shot – when a low cross could have found the open Saibari in the middle – crashed against the bar.
That didn’t wake them up either as Hakimi streaked through moments later and looked set to shoot again.
Van de Ven, a walking-talking recovery pace demon, cut him off just in time, but the alarm bells were ringing now for Holland.
It was Hakimi sparking into life again who provided the next surge on Verbruggen’s goal shortly after.
His series of near post corners were nervously cleared away by a mixture of defence, flailing limbs, and panic.
How Morocco were not ahead after an hour was a mystery.
Within 15 minutes of half-time they had seen 80 per cent of the ball and stifled the Dutch entirely.
Only a desperate shout from Crysencio Summerville for a red card on Noussair Mazraoui after a tangle running towards Bono gave Virgil van Dijk a rest from shouting his team-mates into position.
The Dutch needed every bit of his and Nathan Ake‘s experience as they just about held out to the second commercial hydration break.
What was said about Koeman and being effective during the three-minute tactical timeouts?
Well, if his instructions included hoofing the ball long in abandonment of his nation’s footballing principles, aiming it towards sub Wout Weghorst, and seeing the most popular scorer of the entire tournament so far convert, then it was genius.
Because Summerville did worm away from trouble this time, getting the better of Mazraoui, and Gakpo shrugged off a horrible week with an unbelievable moment.
He was mobbed by his team-mates and the entire bench. Days after losing his unborn child during a miscarriage for his girlfriend, the Liverpool man was brought to tears.
With Holland hardly deserving to still be in the game, nobody could begrudge Gakpo of scoring.
He could hardly believe it had happened either, staying on the floor after a messy piece of defending left him open in the middle of the box, fate in front of him.
Gakpo put his head in his hands before team-mates jumped on top of him, embracing the heart-break he will forever live with – but celebrating this moment of joy at the same time.
It was a contrast of feelings from the same player and same team all at once.
Van Dijk was more pumped up than ever and Holland looked as dangerous on the break with Weghorst acting as a pivot to play from up front, as they had at any point during the game.
Then Morocco were level. Running out of ideas, Chemsdien Talbi delivered what might be the cross of the tournament so far and Issa Diop flicked it on to deliver pandemonium.
It was a goal they deserved, that Holland deserved to concede, but Gakpo didn’t.
They found a similar pattern in extra-time and should have gone ahead within seven minutes of the restart.
Saibari jinxed through with a wonderful mazy run and was staring at Verbruggen from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.
His shot staggeringly didn’t go in. Verbruggen getting a big paw in the way and making surely the save of the World Cup.
But Saibari had to score and shouldn’t have given the ‘keeper a chance.
Nothing else happened before the second half of extra-time with the tie on the line and most too scared to lose it – not even at the risk of winning.
If that 15 minutes became a finger-biting fest then the second was excruciating. Even less took place at all, and so it went to pens.
Morocco’s only previous extra-time went to penalties four years ago when they beat Spain – and they delivered again.
Teun Koopmeiners, on since the 70th minute, drove low and hard with the first kick to make it 1-0.
And Morocco started terrible as El Aynaoui thumped Morocco’s into the bar – immediately placing his side on the back foot in front of the Dutch fans.
But Justin Kluivert, who scored a Prem record hat-trick of penalties in the and came on for his ability from 12 yards, stuttered and struck the post next.
Somehow Vergbruggen couldn’t keep Soufiane Rahimi’s effort out despite getting a hand and his body in the way. 1-1.
Wehorst showed how it’s done with the most confident pen, firing in with power.
Morocco needed Talbi to make it 2-2 and he did, going above Verbruggen.
Quintin Timber, another on from the bench for Holland, dragged his horribly wide to keep the shootout equal.
Hakimi didn’t capitalise as things descend into chaos.
His went into the foot of the same post as Kluivert, going the same way as El Aynaoui, and Timber too.
As Bono stood tall and punched away Summerville’s kick – also to the left – three pens had been missed in a row.
And Saibari converted, breaking the left side duck, to win it 3-2.
Morocco will face Canada in the last-16 on Saturday evening in Houston.
And it could be France in wait beyond that if Didier Deschamps‘ men get past Sweden later on Tuesday and then Paraguay over the weekend.
