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Morocco secure Last 8 ticket by stunning Spain

Morocco earned a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Spain via the penalty shoot-out on Tuesday night.

Abdelhamid Sabiri was relegated to the bench by the Atlas Lions from the win over Canada, while Spain featured Rodri as their only change from their shock defeat against Japan.

There was an early scare by La Roja where a ball in the left channel by Jordi Alba set Marco Asensio free and level with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou before he found the side-netting from a tight angle.

Spain were cut open by the Atlas Lions for the first time just past the half-hour mark in which Ferran Torres conceded possession to Noussair Mazraoui, who brought a fine stop out of Unai Simon.

Bounou was taken to task again earlier in the second half when he produced a strong palm and parried a fiercely hit effort by Dani Olmo away from the far corner of the net.

La Roja coach Luis Enrique looked to his bench at the midway point of the second half, as Carlos Soler replaced Gavi before Asensio made way for Alvaro Morata.

Olmo questioned the liveness of Bounou again in the dying minutes courtesy of a low curling free-kick from outside the area which the latter steered away and extra-time followed.

Spain lived on the edge late in the first half of extra-time and nearly fell behind from a low ball by Walid Cheddira off a delivery in behind, but Simon parried.

However, La Roja were equally close to the winner after a first-time strike on the far side of the area by Pablo Sarabia shaved the woodwork, forcing the clash into a penalty shoot-out came.

A drama-filled shoot-out saw La Roja miss their opening three penalties, which allowed Achraf Hakimi to step up to convert the kick for the win and quarter-final ticket.

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