PENALTY THRILLER | Morocco vs France | FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025 Highlights

Описание: Morocco vs. France (FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi-Final)
The semi-final, played on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Valparaíso, Chile, was an intense and tightly contested affair that finished 1-1 after extra time before being decided by penalties.

Match Highlights
Morocco's Opening Goal (31st minute): Morocco took the lead in a bizarre fashion. After a penalty was awarded, Yassir Zabiri's spot-kick hit the post and then ricocheted off the back of the French goalkeeper, Lisandru Olmeta, into the net. It was officially recorded as an own goal.


France's Equalizer (59th minute): Tournament favorite France responded in the second half with a goal from Lucas Michal to make the score 1-1, forcing the match into extra time.

Extra Time Drama: France played the final minutes of extra time with 10 men after Rabby Nzingoula was sent off for a second yellow card. Despite the man advantage, neither team could find the winning goal.

The Penalty Shootout Hero: Abdelhakim Mesbahi
With the game heading to penalties, Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi made a bold, calculated gamble: he substituted his second-choice goalkeeper, Ibrahim Gomis (who had earlier replaced the injured starter Yanis Benchaouch), for the third-choice keeper, Abdelhakim Mesbahi, just before the final whistle.

The move paid off spectacularly:

Mesbahi's Preparation: Mesbahi came onto the pitch armed with a water bottle that reportedly had intelligence on the French players' penalty preferences.

The Decisive Save: Morocco was flawless with their kicks, going 5-4 up after four attempts each. Mesbahi then made the decisive save against France's last shot from Djylian N'Guessan to send his team into the final.


Historical Context
This victory is a historic moment for Moroccan football, as it marks the first time the country has reached the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Morocco will now face Argentina in the final on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Santiago.