GUADALUPE, Mexico — Morocco beat the Netherlands in a penalty shootout after the match finished 1-1 to advance to the round of 16 on Monday night.
Ismael Saibari netted the decisive penalty to send last year’s semifinalists through to the next round and send Ronald Koeman and the Dutch home.
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for the Dutch. After the goal, which was assisted by Crysencio 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, heading in a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi.
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 to book a spot in the round of 16.
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.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
