Morocco dominated much of the game but were thwarted by inspired goalkeeping from Bart Verbruggen and the woodwork before Gakpo, who had announced the loss of his unborn son on Saturday, smashed home 18 minutes from time after a lightning-fast break. But in a grandstand finish, Issa Diop thumped home a stoppage-time header, sending the game to extra time and ultimately penalties. The Dutch missed three of their spot-kicks, which allowed Ismail Saibari to seal a 3-2 win and book a date with Canada in Houston on Saturday (18:00 BST). Liverpool forward Gakpo had chosen to remain with the squad despite grieving his loss, and started for the Dutch as coach Ronald Koeman switched to a back five for the first time in 32 matches. The opening stages were intense and physical with running battles between Ismail Saibari and Jan Paul van Hecke at one end, and Brian Brobbey and Chadi Riad at the other, with the latter requiring a new shirt following one tussle with the Netherlands and Sunderland forward. Both sides had chances, Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi - winning his 100th cap - testing Bart Verbruggen, while Micky van de Ven went close from distance for the Netherlands. After the break, Morocco took control with Hakimi striking the bar, but were caught by a swift Netherlands counter-attack, as Gakpo fired home and was mobbed by his team-mates. That looked enough until the opening seconds of added time when Diop headed home a curling cross from Chemsdine Taldi. As extra time began, Verbruggen produced one of the saves of the tournament to thwart Soufiane Rahimi after the Morocco substitute jinked his way through. Neither side could prevent the game being settled by spot-kicks and Teun Koopmeiners put the Netherlands ahead before El Aynaoui thumped the crossbar. However, Justin Kluivert hit the base of the post before Rahimi's spot-kick squirmed through the grasp of Verbruggen to make it 1-1. Wout Weghorst found the top corner for the Dutch, followed by Talbi going the opposite side but Quinten Timber dragged a tame effort well wide. Hakimi failed to make him pay as he smashed into the base of the same upright as Kluivert but Crysencio Summerville was then denied by a strong hand from Yassine Bounou, moving to his right before the kick was taken. That allowed Saibari to send Verbruggen the wrong way, finding the bottom corner and breaking Dutch hearts.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Newcastle's Nick Woltemade both had their spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Orlando Gill. But Paraguay twice missed chances to go through as Antonio Sanabria shot wide and Fabian Balbuena's effort was stopped by 40-year-old Manuel Neuer. However, in sudden death, Jonathan Tah blazed over for Germany before defender Jose Canale scored the decisive kick to send Paraguay through 4-3 on penalties. Earlier, Julio Enciso, who previously played in the Premier League with Brighton and Ipswich, had headed Paraguay into a shock lead in the 42nd minute. But Germany produced a much improved performance in the second half and equalised when a glancing header from Havertz connected with a cross from Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz. Paraguay defended superbly to take the tie to extra time, although Germany thought they had won it when Tah headed into the net, only for it to be ruled out as Waldemar Anton was adjudged to have fouled Gill. Germany went first in the shootout, but were never ahead as Havertz missed his country's first penalty, before Woltemade was also denied. Paraguay missed two chances to seal it, but took their third opportunity with the impressive Canale staying calm to score and spark incredible scenes of celebration. Paraguay will play either two-time champions France or 1958 runners-up Sweden in the last 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday (22:00 BST).

In a scrappy game short of clear-cut chances, and with extra time looming, Eustaquio provided a rare moment of quality with a superb low strike from the edge of the penalty area to give Canada the victory. Canada had lost all six of their World Cup matches before this tournament, but this victory continued a superb competition for them. They defeated Qatar 6-0 on 18 June for their first success in a finals and this was another special moment for Jesse Marsch's side as they became the first nation through to the last 16, where they will play either the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday, 4 July. In a team huddle immediately after the final whistle, Marsch could be heard telling his players "you are Canadian heroes. The future of the sport in this country is huge because of you". South Africa had finished second in Group A, but produced a disappointing performance in Los Angeles, with only one shot on target and they looked happy to settle for extra time, before the decisive moment. Canada's Moise Bombito's header was cleared off the line by South Africa's Aubrey Modiba, before Marsch's side thought they should have had a penalty after a challenge from Khuliso Mudau on Richie Laryea. Marsch was incensed at the decision and tried to talk the officials at half-time, only to be stopped by Bombito. Only some superb defending from Mbekezeli Mbokazi denied Jonathan David a goal with a vital block, with Canada having further chances following the introduction of Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, with Jonathan David and Promise David both coming close. But Canada, who had seven shots on target, got the victory they deserved late on to progress and eliminate South Africa.

With just seconds left, Brazil won possession back on the edge of the Japan box and Bruno Guimaraes slipped the ball into Martinelli, who took a touch before slotting in off the post. It was a heartbreaking end for Japan, who had more than matched Brazil in the first half and battled valiantly in the second, but Carlo Ancelotti's side kept pushing and got their reward in final moments. Japan were comfortable in the first half and Kaishu Sano pounced on Danilo's loose pass to drive past Casemiro and drill the ball into the bottom corner to give his side the lead. Brazil struggled to respond before half-time but looked a different side after the break with Casemiro rising to power home Gabriel's back-post cross 10 minutes after the restart. The goal had been coming and the five-time World Cup winners nearly took the lead in stunning fashion three minutes later. Vinicius Jr received the ball 10 yards inside the Japan half, nutmegged his marker, drove into the box, jinked past another defender and stabbed his shot towards the far corner - only for Japan keeper Zion Suzuki to tip it on to the post. Japan regrouped from there and while Brazil continued to push forward, chances were limited. That is until Ao Tanaka lost the ball on the corner of his own box and was ruthlessly punished by Martinelli and Brazil.

Having been left on the bench, with Argentina having already won Group J, Messi was brought on in the 60th minute to the loudest cheer of the night. That was until he curled a low free-kick around the wall to extend Argentina's lead with 10 minutes to go. The goal was Messi's sixth of the tournament already - putting him two clear of his nearest challengers in the race for the golden boot - and a record-extending 19th World Cup goal. It also meant the former Barcelona forward became the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. "Simply incredible," ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC One. "He just impacts games. "He's so clever, so bright. He's so aware of what's going on around him. It's an absolute pleasure to watch him do what he does." Earlier, former Tottenham midfielder Giovani lo Celso had opened the scoring for a much-changed Argentina team as he whipped a superb free-kick into the top corner. Striker Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead with an emphatic penalty thumped into the bottom corner, after the referee had been sent to the monitor to see Marcos Senesi had been inadvertently kicked in the head as he dived to head the ball at goal. While Argentina were in control, Jordan continued to fight and halved the deficit with a brilliantly worked goal 10 minutes into the second half. Having started the move, substitute Mousa Al Tamari was there to convert Ehsan Haddad's excellent ball across the face of goal. The stadium erupted a couple of minutes later when Messi was introduced for the last half hour. There was a buzz of excitement every time he got on the ball in the final third and he gave the fans at Dallas Stadium the moment they so craved with another record-breaking goal.