A NASTY head wound left Ismael Saibari gushing blood before he recovered to knock Holland out of the World Cup.
Saibari, 25, worried Morocco fans towards the end of extra-time when he popped up with a gruesome injury.
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Ismael Saibari suffered a nasty-looking cut above his right eye Credit: AP
Saibari needed patching up before pulling on a brand new jersey and rejoining the action Credit: Reuters
Blood was pouring from a cut above his right eye and his crisp, white shirt was covered in red splodges.
It was so extreme that Saibari was forced to change into a brand new jersey.
But he regained his composure to seal victory in the shootout only minutes later.
Goals from Cody Gakpo and Issa Diop in normal time, and then a goalless half-hour, sent this entertaining knockout clash the full distance.
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Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all missed spot-kicks for the Dutch, who joined fellow European heavyweights Germany by crashing out at the last-32 stage.
And Saibari was there to capitalise – the forward rifling into the bottom left-hand corner and pulling his (new) shirt off in celebration.
It was a gripping physical battle between Saibari and Holland defender Jan Paul van Hecke in Monterrey.
Tottenham new boy Van Hecke was left bloodied from his own head wound earlier in the game.
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Jan Paul van Hecke suffered his own painful head wound in Monterrey Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Saibari recovered to decide the penalty shootout Credit: EPA
And there was a tense moment when the centre-back and Bayern Munich-bound Saibari squared up.
Morocco may fancy their chances of another deep World Cup run – following their adventure to the semi-finals four years ago – as they prepare to take on joint-hosts Canada in the last 16.
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IT’S A KNOCKOUT
The knockout stages of the World Cup are here, with many big sides still in the hunt for global glory.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought for the nation.
But powerhouse nations like France, Spain, Brazil and Germany are all serious contenders for the biggest prize in sport.
Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are showing no signs of slowing down, on what looks to be the pair’s final World Cup.
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