Kylian Mbappé has goal, assist as France beats Morocco 2-0 in World Cup quarterfinals

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

Kylian Mbappé had a goal and an assist after missing a first-half penalty kick, Ousmane Dembélé scored the other goal and France beat Morocco 2-0 Thursday in the World Cup quarterfinals. 

Les Bleus will face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals in Dallas on Tuesday. 

Mbappé's goal in the 60th minute was the 20th of his World Cup career, moving him one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Dembélé scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 66th. 

France beat Morocco by the same score in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to make it that far. France now remains on track to become only the third nation to play in the final of three consecutive World Cups. 

France held a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal and 8-1 edge in shots on target for the game. 

France's second goal came after Mbappé took a pass and tapped it back for Dembélé. Mbappé kept running forward and took defenders with him, opening space for Dembélé's shot. 

Mbappé had the first shot on goal of the game, just missing wide right in the fourth minute. Then, in the 25th, he was running up the left side when he was chopped down in the box by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui. Referee Facundo Tello quickly pointed to the penalty spot. 

Mbappé lined up waiting for his attempt but was held up by a lengthy video review. He was finally cleared to shoot in the 28th minute, but after a hesitation, Mbappé's shot toward the right corner was corralled by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who guessed the direction of the shot correctly. 

Mbappé made his only other penalty attempt at this year's World Cup in France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16. 

Still, France was by far the more active team offensively in the first half, holding a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. 

Morocco's best opportunity came just before the halftime whistle when Achraf Hakimi sent a free kick from just outside the box past the right post.