By Chima Azu
North Africans Morocco knocked out former world champions Spain in the round of 16 by winning 3:0 on penalties to advance into the quarter finals.
The match ended goalless after full time with Spain having the lion share of the possession (77% to 23%). Spain had 13 shots with just 1 shot on target, while the Moroccans had 6 shots with 2 on target.
The game went into extra time and it was still goalless with little goal scoring opportunity but Spain came close to scoring late into extra with the ball hitting the cross bar.
Moroccan goalkeeper Bono who plies his trade for Spanish side Sevilla made a hat-trick of saves during penalties to stop the spaniards. The north Africans scored 3 out of their 4 penalties with goals from Sabiri, Ziyech, and Hakimi all on target while Banoune missed his side’s third; Busquets, Soler and Sarabia all missed and that made Morocco progress to the next round.
The north Africans will now wait to face the winner between Portugal or Switzerland in the quarter finals.
