Spain inflict pain on France

GUWAHATI, October 17

European champions Spain rallied to make the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over France, signalling their title intentions today.

Spain will take on Asian surprise package Iran, who knocked out fancied Mexico by a similar margin in the day’s another pre-quarterfinal clash at Margao.

Juan Miranda (44th minute) and Abel Ruiz (90th) scored for Spain, while Lenny Pintor struck for France in the 34th minute at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.

Pintor put France ahead in the Round of 16 clash, but the lead did not last more than 10 minutes as Miranda restored parity just as the half time approached. Spain celebrated after Miranda headed in the ball to the top right corner off a Ferran Torres cross. 

Moments before Spain erupted in joy, France had taken the lead when Pintor’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box off Amine Gouiri’s assist found the back of the net.

Just when it appeared that the match between the two European giants would go into the extra time, the Spanish were awarded a penalty, which Barcelona starlet Ruiz duly converted to break the French hearts and knock them out of the tournament. Incidentally, France had lost to Spain in the quarterfinals of the European Championships. Ruiz ensured the result would not be any different this time around when he connected from the spot after the penalty was conceded by Oumar Solet. 

England beat Japan in shootout, set up USA clash

Kolkata: England held their nerves to prevail over Japan 5-3 in a penalty shootout and set up a quarterfinal clash with USA. They may have had a jinx in the penalty shootout with the latest being their Euro U-17 final defeat to Spain earlier this year, but the Steve Cooper-coached team remained calm as substitute Nya Kirby sealed the issue after their goalkeeper Curtis Anderson denied Hinata Kida. This is their third quarterfinal and the first since 2011. 

England sorely missed their leading goal-scorer Jadon Sancho, and the Young Lions, who had pumped in 11 goals in the group stage, failed to find the target to settle for a goal-less stalemate against an overly defensive Japan. England showed character in the penalty shootout with a 100 per cent conversion, beginning with Rhian Brewster, who slotted it home with Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani making a wrong dive. 

They followed it up with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Philip Foden and even goalkeeper Anderson finding the target. Japan’s Yukihari Sugawara, Taisei Miyashiro and Toichi Kozuki scored but Kida’s attempt was thwarted in a crucial breakthrough for England. PTI

Spain 2-1 France

• Spain: Juan Miranda (44th min) 
• Abel Ruiz (90th min) 
• France: Lenny Pintor (34th min)

Iran 2-1 Mexico 

• Iran: Mohammed Sharifi (7th min) 
• Allahyar Sayyad (11th min)
• Mexico: Roberto De la Rosa (37th min)

Mali 5-1 Iraq 

• Mali:  Hadji Drame (25th min)
• Lassana N’diaye (33rd, 90+4 min)
• Fode Konate (73rd min)
• Seme Camara (87th min) 
• Iraq:  Kareem (85th min)

England 5-3 Japan (Pen) 

• England: Rhian Brewster
• Callum Hudson-Odoi
• Phil Foden
• Curtis Anderson
• Nya Kirby 
• Japan: Yukinari Sugawara
• Yukinari Sugawara
• Taisei Miyashiro