Gakpo scores after family loss as Netherlands fall to Morocco on penalties
Cody Gakpo scored for the Netherlands days after losing his unborn son, then watched Morocco win 3-2 on penalties in Monterrey.
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for the Netherlands in Monterrey, Mexico, after he and Noa van der Bij announced their unborn son had died during pregnancy. The goal was set up by Crysencio Summerville. Morocco equalized in stoppage time and went on to win 3-2 on penalties.
Gakpo and van der Bij announced on June 27 that the baby, Elijah Raphael Gakpo, had been due in October. Gakpo asked for privacy after the loss, and the Royal Dutch Football Association was supporting him and said he had chosen to remain with the squad. The couple also have a son, Samuel.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman gave Gakpo time off to be with family near the team’s base in Kansas City. Captain Virgil van Dijk said football was secondary and expressed deep respect for the way Gakpo and his family were handling the situation. Gakpo still returned for the round-of-32 match against Morocco, where he was decisive in front of goal and then broke down in tears as teammates embraced him.
Issa Diop equalized in stoppage time to force penalties after the 1-1 draw, and Yassine Bounou saved Summerville’s kick. Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty to send Morocco into the last 16, where it will face Canada in Houston on Saturday.
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