FIFA U-17 WC: Mali, Morocco set up quarter-finals clash
Mahamoud Barry scored twice and laid on another as Mali stormed through to the last eight with a stunning demolition of Mexico in Surabaya.
Les Aigles were irresistible throughout, with the outcome all-but settled inside a one-sided opening 15 minutes in which the outclassed Mexicans conceded three times.
Barry was the difference-maker during this period, with his superb opening goal curled home from 20 yards at the end of a flowing Mali move, setting the tone for what was to follow.
His second goal came just four minutes later, and from a near identical position, with clever approach work again capped by a powerful and precise finish from inside the D.
Mexico simply had no answer to their African opponents, and fell further behind soon after when Ibrahim Diarra’s left-foot effort sneaked past Paolo Bedolla and into the bottom-left corner.
The Concacaf champions’ keeper was left thumping the ground in frustration again when Mali went 4-0 up, having again got a hand to the ball, but not a firm enough contact to prevent Ibrahim Kanate’s penalty finding the net, Ange Martial Tia added the fifth goal on the 5oth minute.
Morocco scored a stoppage-time equaliser then beat IR Iran in a penalty shootout to secure
a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ quarter-finals.
Iran’s Hesam Nafari missed from the spot before Morocco goalkeeper, Taha Benrhozil, saved a twice-taken kick from Kasra Taheri. That gave Fouad Zahouani the chance to win it for the Atlas Cubs, and he duly smashed his penalty home to spark scenes of wild celebration.
Esmaeil Gholizadeh’s superb second-half header looked to have sent Iran through but a powerful volley from Nassim Azaouzi sent the game to penalties.
In Surakarta on Friday, Morocco will face Mali, the team they beat on penalties in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
—FIFA
