By Toby TAIWO
Ismael Saibari is fast becoming the new hero and savior of Morocco.
In a pulsating Round of 36 clash this morning, Saibari stepped up after a heart-wrenching penalty shootout characterized by many misses, to score the decisive goal, and send the Netherlands to a World Cup exit.
Morocco won 3-2 after a 1-1 draw.
With the shootout tied at 2-all after four rounds, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save of Crysencio Summerville’s attempt, batting it away with his left hand. Saibari then sent the winner into the low left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the other direction. The midfielder tore off his shirt and screamed with joy as teammates mobbed him.
The Netherlands had reached at least the Round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago in Qatar, when Morocco made a breakthrough run to the semifinals. In this year’s expanded tournament, 32 teams reached the knockout stage for the first time.
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Morocco moves on to face Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Houston.
In the second round of the shootout with Morocco trailing 1-0, Verbruggen appeared to have stopped an attempt by Soufiane Rahimi. Still, the goalkeeper couldn’t secure the ball and deflected it over the line with the back of his leg.
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for the Netherlands. After the goal, which was assisted by Summerville, the Dutch bench ran onto the field to embrace the 27-year-old Gakpo, who broke down in tears. Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced that they lost their unborn child.
Morocco’s Issa Diop tied it in the 91st minute. Chemsdine Talbi sent a looping cross into the box from about 28 yards out on the left side and connected with Diop for a clean header that Verbruggen had no chance to stop.
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Neither team had a strong scoring opportunity in 30 minutes of extra time at Estadio BBVA.
It was the second game of the tournament to conclude with a shootout. Paraguay beat Germany on penalties earlier Monday.
The teams entered with the highest combined ranking of any Round of 32 match. Morocco was sixth in the world and the Netherlands was seventh.
