Morocco held the edge in the numbers, equalized at the death, and advanced on penalties
Netherlands and Morocco drew 1-1 in a match where the visitors created more, controlled the ball, and ultimately came out on top in the shootout. Issa Diop’s 1-1 in the 90+1' tidies up a contest that had already been trending Morocco’s way based on the production.
Netherlands and Morocco drew 1-1 at the Estadio BBVA, in a World Cup — Round of 32 clash that was decided on penalties, with Morocco winning 3-2. Beyond the draw, the most striking stat is the gap in production: Morocco created chances worth 1.4 and finished with 70% possession, compared with just 0.2 and 30% for Netherlands.
Tactical read
The match featured two very different plans. Morocco, in a 4-2-3-1, controlled the ball for much of the game and generated more attacking volume: 11 shots, 5 on target, and a sustained presence in the opposition half that is reflected in possession and the chances created. Netherlands, set up in a 3-4-2-1, had less of the ball and less depth as well: 6 shots, only 2 on target, and a level of production that fell well short of their opponent.
The final draw does not change that reading. If you look at what each side produced, the result was closer to what Morocco did than to what Netherlands generated. Cody Gakpo’s goal in the 72' gave the Dutch side the lead in a stretch where they had been competing more through efficiency than through buildup. But Morocco’s late response ended up confirming the overall flow of the match.
In addition, the distribution of shots also reinforces that difference: Morocco got into finishing areas more often and more effectively, while Netherlands only maintained a limited threat. The booking tally follows the same line: Netherlands did not receive a yellow card and Morocco picked up 1.
The standout performers
The best ratings also help tell the story of the match:
- Bart Verbruggen was the highest-rated player of the match with 8.3 for Netherlands.
- Noussair Mazraoui posted 7.7 for Morocco.
- Issa Diop finished with 7.3 for Morocco.
Verbruggen’s rating stands out even on a night when his team was behind in possession and attacking production. For Morocco, Mazraoui and Diop were among the key performers in a side that held the initiative better and was rewarded in the closing stages.
The turning point came in the 90+1', when Issa Diop made it 1-1 and pushed the match to penalties. Before that, Gakpo’s strike in the 72' had put Netherlands in front, but it was not enough to break the game open in terms of play. In the shootout, Morocco prevailed 3-2.
In short, the numbers leave a fairly clear picture: Morocco was the team that created more, had the ball more, and reached goal more often. Netherlands held firm efficiently, but their 0.2 in attacking production explain why the draw and the penalty shootout ended up being the most logical outcome for the way the match unfolded.
