FIFA U-17 World Cup: Awesome Argentina book Brazil battle; Morocco through after shootout drama
Argentina cruised through to a quarter-final meeting with Brazil as they brushed aside Venezuela in their Round of 16 encounter in the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in Indonesia.
La Albiceleste opened the scoring in pouring rain in Bandung with just 15 minutes on the clock as Ian Subiabre caused chaos on the left flank before delivering a low ball into the danger area which Luis Balbo was deemed to have turned into his own net with Santiago Lopez in close attendance.
The waves of Argentina attacks continued and it was 2-0 in the 22nd minute as Venezuela failed to clear their lines after Subiabre’s latest teasing ball into the box allowed Lopez to drive home, before captain Claudio Echeverri was set up by Valentino Acuna for the third just 10 minutes later.
Lopez was inches away from his second and Argentina’s fourth at the start of the second period as he unleashed a right-foot pile-driver from outside the box which rattled the crossbar before bouncing down and to safety.
Venezuela’s uphill task was made all-but impossible in the 70th minute as, following an on-field VAR review, Pablo Ibarra received a second yellow card and subsequent red for a late challenge on Franco Mastantuono, with Agustin Ruberto dinking home the resulting penalty via the underside of the bar.
And Ruberto rubbed salt into the wounds of their South American rivals 11 minutes from the end as he was allowed time and space in the box to turn and drive beyond Jorge Sanchez.
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.
After a tense, cautious opening period, Morocco started the second half the stronger. Mohamed Hamony – who again was the Atlas Cubs’ most dangerous player – forced a stunning save from Iran goalkeeper Arsha Shakouri with a sweetly-struck curling effort from just inside the box.
Against the run of play, Iran hit the front on 73 minutes when Gholizadeh met an inviting cross from Nima Andarz with a precision header which went in off the post.
Morocco came within a whisker of a leveller when Amirmohammad Razaghinia’s thunderous free-kick hit the crossbar – but Azaouzi made no mistake when he lashed home on the volley soon after.
On we went to penalties, where Morocco stopper Benrhozil was the hero to send his team through to the last eight. They will face Mali in Surakarta on Friday.
