Mbappé guides France past Morocco to World Cup semifinals - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Kylian Mbappé recovered from a missed penalty to score his 20th World Cup goal and help send France through to the semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco.

Didier Deschamps' team took control of their quarterfinal tie in Boston early in the second half with two goals in six minutes to set up a meeting with either Spain or Belgium in the last four.

Mbappé had his first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou, but scored a wonderful opener for France shortly after the break with a curling effort into the far corner for his eighth of the tournament to draw level with Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot.

It was followed soon afterwards by another from Ousmane Dembélé — quiet up until that point — when the Paris Saint-Germain forward calmly passed his finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Mbappé picked up the assist on Dembélé's goal.

France dominated the first half and the teams were only level at the break thanks to Bounou.

The Morocco goalkeeper saved a Dayot Upamecano header after five minutes before being able to showcase why he is such a fearsome opponent at penalties.

On 25 minutes, Noussair Mazraoui brought down Mbappé in the box, but when the Real Madrid striker stepped up, he saw his effort from the spot saved when Bounou guessed right.

No goalkeeper has more World Cup penalty saves — including shoot-outs — than Bounou's four.

During the hydration break shortly afterwards, Mbappé appeared to complain to the officials that he was made to wait more than three minutes before taking his kick.

Bounou wasn't done. The 35-year-old, who plays his club football in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, made a smart low save from Désiré Doué and tipped a 35-yard effort from Lucas Digne onto the