Morocco held their nerve to beat France on penalties and reach the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a gripping 1-1 draw that lasted 120 minutes at the Elías Figueroa Brande Stadium.
The North Africans won the shootout 6–5 on Wednesday and will await the winner of the Colombia-Argentina semi on Thursday to discover their final opponent.
Morocco took the lead in the 32nd minute when a penalty converted by Yassir Zabiri ended up as an own goal off French defender Lisandru Olmeta.
France restored parity in the second half through Lucas Michal’s strike (59′), and the match remained level at full time despite several late chances for both sides.
Morocco’s afternoon was complicated by the injury to starting goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch, who was replaced by Ibrahim Gomis early in the second half.
France were reduced to 10 men in the first period of extra time when Rabby Nzingoula received a second yellow, a dismissal that swung the momentum Morocco’s way but still failed to produce a winning goal in open play.
Both sides had opportunities in the added 30 minutes, one notably by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma, but neither could find the net.
Morocco converted six spot-kicks to France’s five, with Atlas Cubs takers including Younes El Bahraoui, Ilias Boumassaoudi, Yassir Zabiri, Mohamed Hamony, Saad El Haddad and Byar.
The victory caps a dramatic night in Valparaíso, where Moroccan fans outnumbered many others in the stadium and celebrated wildly as their side secured a place in the U-20 showpiece.
France must now regroup for the third-place play-off.
Morocco will face Colombia or Argentina in the final.
