2010 World Cup winners, Spain failed to score any of their three spot kicks against the Atlas Lion of Morocco during the penalty shootout on Tuesday, December 6.
After the match ended goalless during 120 minutes of play, the Atlas Lion of Morocco went on to win Round of 16 clash against Spain 3-0 on penalties.
Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou saved two penalties as Spain’s Pablo Sarabia had earlier seen his own kick hit the bottom of the bar.
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Luis Enrique’s men enjoyed almost 77 per cent possession over the 120 minutes but created just one shot on target from it in the Round of 16 clash at the ongoing FIFA World Cup tournament.
The closest Spain came in the first half was after 26 minutes when Jordi Alba lifted a ball over the top for Marco Asensio but the Real Madrid midfielder, playing in a false nine position, lashed his shot into the side-netting.
When Morocco did spring forward they did so with purpose with left-winger Sofiane Boufal giving makeshift right-back Marcos Llorente a torrid evening.
Boufal carved out Morocco’s best chance of the first half, beating Llorente and crossing for Nayef Aguerd but the defender could only head over from six yards.
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The second half continued in a similar vein, although Morocco’s counter attacks were becoming more infrequent.
Luis Enrique had seen enough and threw on Alvaro Morata and Nico Williams in a bid to spark some life into his attack and it almost paid off with eight minutes to go, Williams playing in Morata whose cross shot flashed across the face of goal.
Bounou was finally called into serious action with virtually the last kick of normal time, Dani Olmo‘s in-swinging free-kick missing everybody, requiring the Morocco goalkeeper to dive to his left to palm away to safety.
Bounou‘s counterpart Unai Simon had been a virtual spectator for most of the evening but was called into action after 103 minutes, making a smart stop with his feet to keep out Walid Cheddira‘s low shot after neat work from Azzedine Ounahi.
The rest of extra-time offered little before Sarabia almost won it with the final kick, his volley striking the outside of the post.
His night was to go from bad to worse as Bounou took centre stage.
