The FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar continued to showcase thrilling matches as three teams—Argentina, Italy, and Portugal—secured their spots in the knockout stages. Belgium delivered an impressive performance, defeating Fiji with a striking score of seven goals, while New Caledonia managed to earn a draw against Japan. Qatar kept their hopes alive with a draw against South Africa, and Croatia along with Senegal achieved significant victories.
Group A Highlights
In Group A, Italy faced Bolivia and won decisively, scoring four goals without reply. Key moments included:
- Simone Lontani opened the scoring in the 34th minute.
- Samuele Inacio doubled the lead shortly after.
- Destiny Elimoghale contributed the third goal, while Fabio Pandolfi sealed the win with a late fourth.
Italy’s Player of the Match was Samuele Inacio, whose performance was instrumental in their consecutive victories.
Portugal’s Dominance in Group B
Portugal put on a commanding display against Morocco, winning 6-0. Highlights from the match included:
- Joao Aragao and Anisio Cabral scored early goals, establishing a strong lead.
- Mateus Mide scored twice, including a penalty, further solidifying Portugal’s advantage.
- Jose Neto capped off the scoring with two goals in the second half.
Mateus Mide was recognized as Player of the Match, affirming Portugal’s route to the knockout stages.
Defensive Standouts and Draws
Japan faced New Caledonia in a tightly contested match, ending in a goalless draw. Despite Japan’s offensive efforts, thanks to 18 attempts in the first half, they were thwarted by outstanding saves from New Caledonia’s Nicolas Kutran. Player of the Match was Minato Yoshida from Japan.
Group C Showcases
In another match, Croatia defeated the UAE 3-0. Goals came from:
- Tino Kusanovic
- Gabrijel Sivalec
- Kresimir Rados, who scored late in the match.
Leon Jakirovic was awarded Player of the Match for Croatia’s dominating performance.
Senegal’s Narrow Win
Senegal managed a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica, thanks to an early goal by Alwaly Camara. His exceptional strike in the eighth minute secured another win for Senegal, while Costa Rica struggled offensively.
Argentina’s Path to Knockouts
Argentina defeated Tunisia 1-0, with Facundo Jainikoski scoring the only goal of the match in the 67th minute. Player of the Match was Jeronimo Gomez Mattar, who helped steer the team to the knockout rounds.
Belgium’s Stellar Performance
Belgium achieved one of the highlights of the tournament, annihilating Fiji 7-0. Key contributions included:
- Rene Mitongo scored four goals, dominating the match.
- Noah Fernandez and Pablo Capilla Rivera both netted early to seize the momentum.
- Loic Alvarez also scored, showcasing Belgium’s attacking prowess.
Mitongo’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match title.
Conclusion
With Argentina, Italy, and Portugal advancing, the competition intensifies as teams vie for the championship title in this thrilling U-17 World Cup.
