Morocco vs Spain final score, result: Bounou and Hakimi decisive as African side win on penalties

Andrew Haslam

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Morocco vs Spain final score, result: Bounou and Hakimi decisive as African side win on penalties image

Morocco reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, as they ousted former winners Spain on penalties in a gripping Round of 16 game.

The last African side left in World Cup 2022 defended superbly throughout and had two golden chances to win it in extra time — Walid Cheddira twice going close.

It mattered little, though, as Spain failed with their first three spot-kicks in the shootout, leaving Achraf Hakimi to nervelessly convert the decisive kick with an audacious Panenka chip, and send his team through to a meeting with Portugal or Switzerland in the third quarterfinal on Saturday.

(US only)

The pattern of the game was established from the first whistle, Spain dominating possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Morocco backline.

Luis Enrique's side had almost 70 percent of the ball in the first 45 minutes but went no closer than Marco Asensio's shot into the side-netting, with Gavi and Ferran Torres both denied in the same move by spectacular blocks, although the offside flag was already up.

Morocco's gameplan was clearly to soak up pressure and try to hit the Spanish on the break, Noussair Mazraoui's fierce shot from range stinging the palms of Unai Simon, before Nayef Aguerd, unmarked at the far post, headed over a golden chance created by the trickery of Sofiane Boufal.

The same pattern continued into the second period, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou reacting smartly to push away Dani Olmo free-kicks at either end of the half, while Alvaro Morata fizzed a shot across the face of the goal shortly after his introduction.

Morocco had the two best chances of the first period of extra time, Cheddira first being denied by Aymeric Laporte's challenge and then the right leg of Simon, but it was the African side's superb defending at the other end that proved crucial.

Pablo Sarabia hit the post with Spain's first kick of the shootout before Bounou saved from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets, giving the chance for Hakimi – born in Madrid – to convert the winning penalty with a Panenka kick.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights for Morocco vs Spain at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the Round of 16 match in Qatar.

MORE: Follow Portugal vs Switzerland live

Morocco vs Spain score

  1H 2H ET Final*
Morocco 0 0 0 0
Spain 0 0 0 0

*Morocco win 3-0 on penalties

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Morocco lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bounou (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd (18. El Yamiq 85'), 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui (25. Attiyat Allah 82') — 8. Ounahi (24. Benoun 120'), 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah (21. Cheddira 82') — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri (11. Sabbiri 82'), 17. Boufal (16. Ezzalzouli 66')

Spain lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 6. Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba (14. Balde 98') — 9. Gavi (19. Soler 63'), 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres (12. Williams 75'; 22. Sarabia 118'), 10. Asensio (7. Morata 63'), 21. Olmo (25. Fati 98').

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Morocco vs Spain as it happened, highlights from 2022 World Cup

  • Achraf Hakimi to win it... SCORES! A Panenka down the middle to send Morocco into the quarterfinals!
  • Sergio Busquets... SAVED! Yassine Bounou saves to his right and Morocco are on the brink!
  • Badr Benoun... SAVED! Unai Simon dives to his right and Spain are still in it!
  • Carlos Soler... SAVED! Bounou dives to his left and it's still 2-0 Morocco!
  • Hakim Ziyech... SCORES! 2-0 Morocco
  • Pablo Sarabia... HITS THE POST! Still 1-0 Morocco!
  • Abdelhamid Sabiri... SCORES! 1-0 Morocco

MOROCCO TO START THE SHOOTOUT...

Spain were knocked out of both World Cup 2018 and Euro 2020 on penalties, and have won only one of their four shootouts in the World Cup overall. Morocco, meanwhile, have never taken part in a World Cup shootout.

FULLTIME: That's it, it's finished goalless. Stay right where you are, penalties to come!

POST! 120+3 mins: There's the last chance! Pablo Sarabia gets in at the far post and volleys brilliantly past Yassin Bounou only for the ball to clip the far post!

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120+2 mins: Wonderful ball in from Pablo Sarabia and equally excellent clearance from Jawad El Yamiq, who turns the ball behind on the stretch.

120+1 mins: Pablo Sarabia finds Sergio Busquets breaking into the area, but he's blocked off as he tries to create space for the shot.

120 mins: Into three final minutes added on, and Spain haven't given this up just yet...

117 mins: Nico Williams leads a Spain counter-attack and plays the ball inside to Alvaro Morata. The substitute runs at the defense but gets caught in two minds and neither shoots nor passes, the balls dribbling behind.

115 mins: Is this third time lucky for Walid Cheddira as he gets away down the left? No, as both Rodri and Aymeric Laporte get back to crowd him out.

112 mins: Romain Saiss looks like his race might be run as he pulls up clutching his right thigh. After a lengthy period of treatment, he limps off. Surely that's the end of his involvement, although it looks like he's going to try and continue as they apply a huge strapping to his leg.

109 mins: Spain continuing to press for what would surely be the decisive goal, but Morocco have defended superbly today. They have just over 10 more minutes to hold out.

106 mins: Morocco kick off in the second period of extra time, with Abdelhamid Sabiri shooting immediately! The ball sails high over Unai Simon's crossbar.

HALFTIME: That's the end of the first period of extra time and Morocco are still holding out, while Walid Cheddira has had two big chances on the break. Fifteen minutes to find a goal.

104 mins: Another huge chance for Morocco and it's Walid Cheddira again, cutting through the Spain rearguard. He hits the target this time but Unai Simon's right leg keeps the ball out.

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103 mins: A fair illustration of the difference in approaches today:

100 mins: Spain have definitely stepped it up now, Alvaro Morata proving a handful for the Morocco backline, which has been superb today. Here a cross goes over his head but he occupies defenders which allows Alejandro Balde space for a shot that is charged down.

98 mins: Will Spain's bench make the difference? Luis Enrique is clearly hoping so as he withdraws Jordi Alba and Dani Olmo, Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati coming on.

97 mins: Nico Williams has made a difference for Spain since coming on, getting in two promising balls from the right in quick succession; the second is just too high for Alvaro Morata.

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95 mins: WHAT A CHANCE! Sofyan Amrabat's pass finds a way through and Walid Cheddira is suddenly bearing down on goal, but he's unable to get the ball out of his feet and Aymeric Laporte sticks out a foot to flick the ball away. And now the flag is up.

93 mins: For all their possession, there's been a shortage of cutting edge for Spain today, against a well-drilled Morocco backline. Will tiredness play a part now? The African side have used all five substitutes, although they have the option for an extra change in extra time.

91 mins: We go again. Will we get a winner in the next 30 minutes or will it take penalties, as it did in Croatia-Japan yesterday?

FULLTIME That's almost the last action of regulation time as the referee's whistle brings play to an end. It will take extra time, and maybe penalties, to separate these sides.

90+5 mins: That's as close as Spain have come, Dani Olmo whipping the ball into the penalty area. Nico Williams is so close to applying a decisive touch, but Yassine Bounou still has to make the save, diving to his left to push the ball away.

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90+2 mins: Unai Simon has ridden his luck at several points today and really gets fortunate here, taking a poor touch with Abde Ezzalzouli closing in and only just managing to hack the ball away in time.

90+1 mins: The ball in finds Alvaro Morata at the far post but he neither heads at goal nor knocks it back across goal looking for a teammate, the ball sailing into the stands.

90 mins: Romain Saiss goes into the book for a trip on Dani Olmo and Spain have a freekick down the left. Carlos Soler is over it, as the board goes up for five minutes of added time.

89 mins: Both teams pushing now, and it takes a big block from Sofyan Amrabat to keep out Nico Williams' shot after Alvaro Morata gets away down the right, but the flag is already up.

(US only)

86 mins: Achraf Hakimi still carries plenty of threat, though, his cross creating a chance for Walid Cheddira, but the substitute cannot make a clean connection after spinning on to the ball.

84 mins: A blow for Morocco as they make a triple substitution, including Noussair Mazraoui who looks to have picked up an injury. Almost immediately, Nayef Aguerd goes down and he too cannot continue, Jawad El Yamiq taking his place.

81 mins: Good effort from Alvaro Morata, who fizzes the ball right across the face of goal from a tight angle, with no one having gambled on getting on the end of it.

78 mins: Jordi Alba's cross is only half-cleared by Selim Amallah as far as Dani Olmo on the edge of the area, but he cannot keep the volley down. Would have been some strike from 25m.

76 mins: The first yellow card of the game, Aymeric Laporte picking up a booking for a late lunge on Achraf Hakimi.

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75 mins: Another change up front for Spain, Nico Williams coming on for Ferran Torres.

73 mins: Morocco have been extremely difficult to break down so far. Spain have looked a little short of ideas in attacking areas.

69 mins: First chance for Alvaro Morata to cause problems for the Morocco backline, but his touch is slightly too heavy as he enters the area and Nayef Aguerd takes advantage with a well-timed sliding challenge.

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66 mins: Sofiane Boufal has been limping for a few minutes and now goes off, Abde Ezzalzouli taking his place.

63 mins: As Jordi Alba receives a spot of treatment, the first change of the match, Gavi and Marco Asensio going off for Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata.

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59 mins: Great run from Gavi to burst past three challenges and find Dani Olmo on the left, but Achraf Hakimi is there with a well-timed challenge. Morocco struggling to get out a little at the moment.

55 mins: Yassine Bounou stands tall at his near post to fist away Dani Olmo's fierce freekick from the right, Marco Asensio flicking the ball off to set up the angle for Olmo.

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52 mins: Luis Enrique not looking too pleased on the sidelines at the moment. The Spain head coach will want his side to show more in the final third, surely.

49 mins: Spain's approach exactly the same in this second half so far. Morocco have barely had a kick so far, but nor have they looked like being broken down.

46 mins: Morocco kick off and the second half is underway. Will be see Alvaro Morata in this second half?

HALFTIME The end of an opening 45 minutes in which Spain have had the ball but Morocco have had the best chance, Nayef Aguerd heading over when unmarked in front of goal. The 2010 champions will need to find a cutting edge to go with their possession after the break.

45 mins: Only one extra minute of added time at the end of this first half.

42 mins: Spain have had the majority of the ball, as you might expect, but they've rarely looked like finding a way through. Morocco have, in contrast, had their moments, Sofiane Boufal twisting and turning on the left of the area before crossing for Nayef Aguerd at the far post, who's unmarked but heads over. Big chance.

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39 mins: Morocco have been trying to get fullbacks Noussair Mazraoui and, here, Achraf Hakimi, in behind the Spain rearguard throughout this first half. Hakim Ziyech overhits this pass, but it only needs to come off once.

36 mins: Spain have responded to that shot by trying to up the tempo, pinging the ball around at pace inside the Morocco half. Still no way through, though.

33 mins: Decent work from Noussair Mazraoui, who takes the ball off Ferran Torres midway inside the Spain half and strikes a decent effort with his left foot, Unai Simon diving to his right to parry and gather at the second time of asking.

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31 mins: Morocco look to have regrouped after that little spell of Spain pressure, Rodri bringing down Youssef En-Nesyri to allow the defence to grab their breath.

27 mins: First real chance for Spain as Marco Asensio springs the offside trap, but he's forced a little wide and rattles a shot into the sidenetting at the near post. Would probably have done better to shoot across Yassine Bounou there.

26 mins: The flag is up, which spares the blushes of both Gavi and Ferran Torres. The latter closes down Yassine Bounou, whose clearance is cut out, but Torres is offside as the ball is returned into the area. Gavi's effort is brilliantly blocked, however, and Torres is denied on the follow-up as well, although it wouldn't have counted anyway.

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24 mins: Morocco are definitely growing into this game, to the delight of their huge contingent of fans.

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21 mins: Morocco have played some nice football as well, Sofiane Boufal dancing past a couple of challenges down the left before looking for Hakim Ziyech with a cross-field pass, but the ball is cut out.

18 mins: The bulk of the game so far has taken place in the Morocco half, but Spain are still to fashion a chance worthy of the name.

14 mins: Unai Simon hangs in the air to claim Noussair Mazraoui's looping cross from the left, holding on despite Youssef En-Nesyri applying some pressure.

11 mins: Free-kick to Morocco on the left of the Spain area, 25m from goal. Achraf Hakimi is over it, but Unai Simon is able to watch the ball sail over his crossbar.

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7 mins: Morocco's game plan looks clear already; soak up the pressure and look to hit on the break. It's a long time to hold out though...

3 mins: Spain dominating possession in these early exchanges but Morocco are determined not to let them settle. They're flying into the tackles already.

KICKOFF: Spain get us started, and the penultimate round of 16 tie at World Cup 2022 is underway!

3 mins from kickoff: The winners of this tie will take on the victors in the final round of 16 contest, Portugal or Switzerland, at the Al Thumama Stadium in the third quarter-final on 10 December, kick-off 18:00 local time.

5 mins for kickoff: The teams emerge from the tunnel. It's a fantastic atmosphere and far more Morocco fans than Spain. This must seem like a home game for them!

(UK only)

10 mins from kickoff: Final preparations just about done and dusted. We're almost ready to go!

15 mins from kickoff: Spain are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010, which was the only time they have got to the last eight in their last five World Cup appearances. Overall, La Rioja have appeared in six quarter-finals, but have managed only one win at that stage – a 1-0 defeat of Paraguay 12 years ago when they went on to win the tournament.

Morocco have never reached the World Cup quarter-finals. Indeed, this is only their second appearance in the round of 16; they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up West Germany in 1986, Lothar Matthaus scoring the only goal two minutes from time.

20 mins from kickoff: Fans soaking up the atmosphere at the Education City Stadium!

25 mins from kickoff: Spain going through their prematch paces:

30 mins from kickoff: This is the fourth time the teams have met, and the second in successive World Cups after they shared a 2-2 matchday 3 draw in Kaliningrad in the group stage four years ago. Morocco twice led at the Kaliningrad Stadium, through Khalid Boutaib (14) and Youssef En-Nesyri (81) but Isco (19) and Iago Aspas (90+1) earned Spain a point.

Spain won their first two games against Morocco, 1-0 in Casablanca and 3-2 in Madrid, in qualifying for the 1962 World Cup.

40 mins from kickoff: Gavi and Pedri have quickly become key players for Spain in this finals, and the former is keeping some pretty lofty company now.

50 mins from kickoff: With one African side left in the tournament, Morocco are getting plenty of support from across the continent:

1 hr from kickoff: Walid Regragui confirmed no fresh injuries following Morocco's 2-1 win over Canada, with key duo Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi passed fit and they start in goal and at rightback respectively. Selim Amallah replaces Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield in Morocco's only change.

Spain's shock loss to Japan last time out has forced a rethink for Luis Enrique, who has reverted to the side that drew with Germany on matchday two with one exception, Marcos Llorente replacing Dani Carvajal at rightback.

1 hrs 10 mins from kickoff: Spain's team news is also in, via the jazzy video!

1 hrs 20 mins from kickoff: As we digest the Morocco team news, go deeper to find out about one of their key men, Achraf Hakimi, who opted for the Atlas Lions over today's opponents Spain.

MORE: Why Achraf Hakimi chose Morocco over Spain

1 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Team news! Here's how Morocco start.

2 hrs from kickoff: Spanish outlet Marca is guaranteed to have a field day whatever happens this afternoon. They've spoken to journalist Julio Maldonado Maldini, who reckons Morocco are dangerous and had advice for Luis Enrique.

"It will be a very risky game for Spain," said Maldini, calling Morocco a "very good team technically, starting with the midfielders".

"It is also a team that tries to continue playing the ball. This World Cup, they are being more pragmatic – but many times they try to play out. That allows them to position the full-backs very high. The full-backs are the best: Achraf Hakimi and Mazraoui.

"They do damage in space due to Ziyech's speed. Boufal unbalances the opposition. Morata must play as a centre forward to pin the central defenders. He has to play.

"I think Ferran Torres will return together with Dani Olmo. The midfield is the same as always: Sergio Busquets, Gavi and Pedri. The only doubt can be on the right side, between Cesar Azpilicueta and Dani Carvajal."

2 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Stat attack time for Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, who scored his first World Cup goal in his country's 2-1 win over Canada.

The livewire played the most passes into the box (17) and created the most chances (7) of any Morocco player at this World Cup, while he’s also had the most ball carries (43), carried the ball the furthest distance (477.6m) and had the most take-ons following a ball carry (9) of any Morocco player. Bravo.

3 hrs from kickoff: Pass masters Spain completed 2,489 of them in the group stages of this World Cup – their most in a single group stage since records began in 1966.

There's surely a lesson for Morocco in La Roja's defeat to Japan, though, when their total of 82.3% possession and 969 passes in represented records for a losing team in a World Cup game over the last 56 years.

3 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Today's underdogs are featuring in the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time. They reached the Round of 16 in 1986, losing 1-0 to Germany.

4 hrs from kickoff: Morocco can equal a record today after going unbeaten in their last four matches at the World Cup, winning two of them.

The only African team to go five consecutive World Cup games without defeat are Cameroon, winning twice and drawing three times between 1982 and 1990.

4 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Spain have never lost in three previous meetings with Morocco, with their two wins both coming in qualifying play-off legs for the 1962 World Cup in November 1961, when they triumphed 1-0 away and 3-2 at home.

5 hrs from kickoff: Morocco, in the Round of 16 for the first time in 36 years, are out to prove they belong among in the company of World Cup contenders. Spain, beaten by Japan last time out, want to show that was a mere blip on their road to glory. This has the makings of a classic.

Morocco vs Spain lineups, team news

Regragui confirmed no fresh injuries following Morocco's 2-1 win over Canada, with key duo Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi passed fit. Selim Amallah replaced Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield in the only change.

Morocco lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bounou (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah — 7. Ziyech, 19. En-Nesyri, 17. Boufal

Spain's shock loss to Japan has forced a rethink for Enrique, who has reverted to the side that drew with Germany on matchday two with one exception, Marcos Llorente replacing Dani Carvajal at rightback. Rodri continued to fill in in central defense.

Spain lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 6. Llorente, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres, 10. Asensio, 21. Olmo.

Morocco vs Spain live stream, TV channel

Morocco take on Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on December 6 with kickoff set at 18:00 local time in Qatar.

Here's how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Tue, Dec. 6 10:00 ET Fox,
Telemundo		 fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Tue, Dec. 6 10:00 ET TSN 1, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK Tue, Dec. 6 15:00 GMT ITV, STV ITVX, STV Player
Australia Wed, Dec. 6  02:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Tue, Dec. 6 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 MYT Astro FIFA World Cup 1 Astro GO
Singapore Tue, Dec. 6 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup,
Singtel FIFA World Cup 141		 Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Wed, Dec. 6 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

Andrew Haslam

Andrew Haslam Photo

Andrew Haslam is a freelance journalist with more than 20 years' experience working in football. A long-suffering Middlesbrough fan, as if there's any other kind, he has been a long-standing member of UEFA's digital team with particular focus on press kits and Fantasy football in addition to live match coverage, and has also worked for the Premier League and Chelsea among many other roles.