06/29/26 11:09:00
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06/29 23:06 CDT Saibari's shootout winner sends Morocco past the Netherlands,
earliest World Cup exit for the Dutch
Saibari's shootout winner sends Morocco past the Netherlands, earliest World
Cup exit for the Dutch
By ETHAN WILCOX
Associated Press
GUADALUPE, Mexico (AP) --- Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in a penalty
shootout, and Morocco sent the Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit,
eliminating the Dutch 3-2 after a 1-1 draw on Monday night.
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 Netherlands had reached at least the round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups,
including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago, when Morocco reached the
semifinals.
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for 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, 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.
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.
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Ethan Wilcox is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media
Institute.
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See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
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