Morocco stun Spain on penalties in major World Cup upset to reach quarter-finals for first time

Morocco have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the very first time after a dramatic last-16 upset of Spain on penalties.

Achraf Hakimi coolly chipped home the winning panenka spot-kick after Spain had missed all three of their penalties. Pablo Sarabia hit the post with the first before Morocco goalkeeper Bono saved efforts from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Hakimi’s ice-cold settler sent the largely Moroccan crowd wild.

After a scrappy match finished deadlocked at 0-0 after extra time with few shots on target, Morocco fed off the raucous support of their red-clad supporters in the shootout as Spain crumbled.

Spain enjoyed more than 75 per cent of possession and completed almost 800 passes but Morocco caused problems for them on the counter-attack and goalkeeper Unai Simon made some good saves. Second-half substitute Walid Cheddira could - and probably should - have settled the game for the Moroccans before the shootout after missing three good chances, but Hakimi saved his blushes as history was made.