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2010 World Champions Spain are through to the round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA world cup Russia.
Though already eliminated, Morocco had an objective of their own: to ensure they did not leave the competition goalless.
Morocco were the first to fulfil their aim, as forward Khalid Boutaib capitalised on a Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta error to sprint clear and slip the ball under David De Gea with 14 minutes on the clock.
Clearly stung, *La Roja* took just five minutes to reply, with Iniesta slipping the perfect pass to Isco, who fired home from close range.
That was not the cue for the Spanish machine to click into gear, however, as the Atlas Lions continued to make life difficult for them.
Boutaib scampered clear once more only to be denied by De Gea, and though Diego Costa was inches away from converting another pinpoint Iniesta pass before the break, the Moroccans went close yet again when Nourredine Amrabat struck the angle of post and bar with a fizzing drive ten minutes into the second half.
Spain’s response to that scare was to keep the ball and bump up their possession stats, though it was the Africans who struck next when Youssef En Nesyri powered home a header from a corner with nine minutes remaining.
But just when Morocco though the points were theirs, Iago Aspas scored with a fine back-heeled flick in stoppage time as Spain ultimately made first place theirs.
Though Spain left it late, tonight’s draw extends their unbeaten run to 23 matches, a sequence that no other team on the planet can match.
Russia-Spain, Round of 16, Moscow, 1 July is next.
