Morocco goalkeeper Abdelhakim Mesbahi was the unlikely hero as the Atlas Cubs held their nerve in a sudden-death shootout to tame France in Valparaiso, Chile and reach their first FIFA U-20 World Cup final.
The North Africans had already substituted one keeper during the match when Ibrahim Gomis came on for the injured Yanis Benchaouch in the second half of regulation time, and they repeated the move prior to the penalty shootout, with Mesbahi brought on for the spot-kicks.
There, Mesbahi seized his opportunity as he saved Djylian N’Guessan’s effort in sudden death to steer Morocco into Sunday’s decider against Argentina.
During the clash against France, which ended 1-1 in regulation time, Morocco were awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark following a shirt tug by France midfielder Andrea Le Borgne in his area on Ismael Baouf. Yassir Zabiri’s spot-kick found the target after clipping the post and then the back of French keeper Lisandru Olmeta for an own goal.
The Atlas Cubs appeared to be in cruise control and should have made it two in the 40th minute when Fouad Zahouani scuffed an effort from yards out with the goal at his mercy. But France refused to panic and finished the half strongly when Ilane Toure forced Benchaouch into an excellent block in stoppage time.
Les Bleuets coach Bernard Diomede rang the changes during the break, and they soon paid off as substitute Moustapha Dabo teed up Lucas Michal for his fifth goal of the tournament to become the joint leader in the adidas Golden Boot race. The two sides could not be split as the match moved to extra time, where Rabby Nzingoula, who came on in the 87th minute for the French, was sent off for picking up two yellow cards.
The move to bring on Mesbahi for the penalty shootout paid off as Morocco became the first African team to reach the final of the global showpiece since Ghana in 2009.
“I’m really happy with my team. We didn’t give up. The whole competition has been difficult, but we never gave up,” Othmane Maamma told FIFA.com.
“We showed the beautiful side of Morocco once again. I hope the people will be happy. It’s all about emotions. I’m going to stop talking, otherwise I’ll cry.”
The decider will take place at the Julio Martinez Pradanos Stadium in Santiago, Chile’s capital.
