Last-gasp Aspas equaliser helped Spain book a last-16 World Cup clash with hosts Russia after a dramatic 2-2 draw against already eliminated Morocco in Kaliningrad.
2018 World Cup
2-2
Match Events
14' GOAL! Spain 0-1 Morocco (K. Boutaib)
Goal! Spain 0, Morocco 1. Khalid Boutaïb (Morocco) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
19' GOAL! Spain 1-1 Morocco (Isco)
Goal! Spain 1, Morocco 1. Isco (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
23' CHANCE! Pique's header saved
24' De Gea makes his first save of this World Cup
45' Diego Costa misses a golden chance
54' CLOSE! Amrabat's shot off the bar
61' What a clearance from Morocco defender
64' CLOSE! Pique's header wide out
81' GOAL! Spain 1-2 Morocco (Y. En-Nesyri)
Goal! Spain 1, Morocco 2. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Faycal Fajr with a cross following a corner.
Match reports
The 2010 champions started Monday on top of Group B but seemed certain to slip below their Iberian rivals in the final table as both matches entered stoppage-time with Portugal and Morocco leading.
Spain went behind when Andres Iniesta and captain Sergio Ramos somehow allowed Khalid Boutaib to seize upon a loose ball and run clear to score Morocco's first goal at the finals since 1998.
Iniesta soon made amends, though, skipping through the Morocco defence to set up Isco for a quickfire leveller, with La Roja unable to break down their opponents despite dominating.
When Morocco substitute Youssef En-Nesyri got up highest to thump home a brilliant header from a Faycal Fajr corner with nine minutes to go, Herve Renard's men looked set to claim a memorable victory.
But after another substitute, Iago Aspas, tucked in a superbly improvised finish that survived a lengthy VAR review for offside, while Iran struck a late penalty, La Roja somehow finished top of the group.
Spain showed signs of their bewitching best in possession but Fernando Hierro's side must show serious improvement in the knockout stages if they have ambitions to claim their second World Cup.
Line-ups
Spain XI: Sergio Ramos, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Diego Costa, Sergio Busquets, David De Gea, Thiago Alcántara, Isco, Daniel Carvajal
Subs: José Reina, Nacho Monreal, César Azpilicueta, Iago Aspas, Rodrigo Moreno, Nacho, Saúl Ñíguez, Koke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Lucas Vázquez, Álvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio
Morocco XI: Manuel da Costa, Karim El Ahmadi, Moubarak Boussoufa, Nabil Dirar, Nordin Amrabat, Younès Belhanda, Munir Mohamedi, K. Boutaïb, Romain Saïss, Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi
Subs: Medhi Benatia, Mehdi Carcela-González, Aziz Bouhaddouz, Faycal Fajr, Bono, Sofyan Amrabat, Amine Harit, Hamza Mendyl, Youssef En-Nesyri, A. El Kaabi