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The Times of India
The Times of India
Sport
Siddharth Saxena | TNN

Morocco edge out Spain in passing

DOHA: Pablo Sarabia, substitute for substitute Nico Williams, would see his 120th minute shot kiss the post of Yassine Bounou's goal and fly out. The last action of regulation and extra-time play would tell the story of the day. Because Sarabia would find the post again, this time in the penalty shoot-out as it would trigger Spain's slide out of and away from Qatar.

That Spain would attempt 1000 passes at this World Cup once again but in the end, not one of them got them the result they needed. Morocco, hanging on by the skin of their teeth, would defend and defend, a veritable red wall of stone to take the issue to penalties where they would prevail 3-0.

Abdelhamid Sabiri would send Unai Simon the wrong way, Sarabia would fail hitting Bounou's right post. Hakim Ziyech would make no mistake, Carlos Soler would see his shot saved. Simon would block Badr Benoun's shot. Busquets would fail, Bounou saving his lame effort. Achraf Hakimi, the Madrid-born Moroccan, would make no mistake to send the Africans into the quarterfinals.

Spain, favourites in a sense at Qatar, would just fail to pull the trigger when it would matter the most. Their exit would only reinforce the long-held belief that holding the ball does not translate into automatic victory. That domination can come in ways other than possession. Defensive organization, as Morocco proved here on Tuesday, could also be a version of dominating proceedings.

After a first half where they were repeatedly hustled off the ball, Spain would manage to regain some edge in the game, retaking possession in the second, keeping the ball but not creating too many chances. Either way, it would prove a tough examination of Morocco's concentration and their defensive stubbornness, especially Nayef Aguerd and captain Romain Saiss in the middle of their defence.

Alvaro Morata, coming on in the second session for Marco Asensio would chip his way to goal, but nobody giving an inch, it would turn into bedlam as Spain would grow desperate in trying to get that one goal that would settle the issue. The Moroccans, for their part, spent and exhausted would just hang on, their resolve intact with each second passing towards the end of regulation time.

Five minutes from the end, their legs drained, they would still make an attempt at Simon's goal with Cheddira shooting straight at the Spain goalkpeeper. Cheddira would be guilty in the fourth minute of extra time, fluffing his lines when Aymeric Laporte just tapped the ball ahead of him, out of his reach as he prepared to shoot.

Ten minutes later, Simon's left foot would deny Cheddira yet again, with the entire Spanish defence trailing him. As extra time loomed, Morocco would find strength and throw everything at the Spanish goal, forcing Luis Enrique's side to make errors and then scramble to recover. But it would be a tie fated for the lottery of the penalties.

In the first half, Morocco would give Spain a torrid time, not ceding an inch, not allowing them to settle and play their passing game.

Sofiane Boufal, the lanky winger on Morocco's left flank, made Marcos Llorente twist and turn, sending him the wrong way on more than one occasion. On the other end, Hakim Ziyech was causing similar problems for Jorbi Alba.

Alba, however, was able to make amends with his runs up front and set up fine balls. Llorente had no such luck, forcing Ferran Torres and Gavi to fall back to help out.

Gavi would have a good chance to score, but his shot would be deflected off Bounou's gloves and the rebound would hit the crossbar and bounce off for Torres whose shot would be cleared but he would also be offside.

In the 32nd minute, Noussair Mazraoui dispossessed Torres, moved up and took a shot that forced a save from Unai Simon.

Then another Alba delivery would set up Asensio, but the striker would find the side netting.

In the 41st minute, Boufal's cross from the right would find Aguerd whose header goes wide. This would prove a series of scares for Spain., because two minutes later Ziyech's header attempt at the right post was just kept out of danger.

Gavi would come alive in the second half, his battles with the much-bigger Achraf Hakimi becoming the cornerstone of the contest. But he would be revoked just past the hour after drawing the attention of the burly Moroccan defenders. Carlos Soler would take his place.

In the 54th, Dani Olmo's fine attempt off a freekick forced Bounou to make a save.

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