OneFootball
Alex Mott·25 November 2023
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsOneFootball
Alex Mott·25 November 2023
Who joined Argentina and Germany in the semi-finals of the Under 17 World Cup?
Find out here.
Scorers: Bouneb 83′
Les Bleus took on the tournament’s surprise package as they faced the England-slayers Uzebkistan.
And, as expected, it was the European side who dominated proceedings early on with Monaco star Saimon Bouabré showing impressive technique in the middle of the park.
It was Bouabré who went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half as the teen broke between the lines of the Uzbeki defence but saw his close range effort blocked at the last second.
Uzbekistan had their own chance to score right at the end of the first half however as Lazizbek Mirzaez saw his header tipped agonisingly around the left-hand post.
Into the second half and striker Joan Tincrès missed a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark as his initial header came back off the post but then shanked the rebound wide.
The Asian side thought they had opened the scoring on 65 minutes as Amirbek Saidov beat the offside trap and finished well – but the striker was slightly ahead of his final man and the goal was ruled out.
Quality eventually paid however as with seven minutes to go, Ismail Bouneb reacted fastest to a loose ball and fired home.
Scorers: Diarra 81′
Mali booked their place in the semi-final by seeing off Morocco in an all-African clash.
Ibrahim Diarra went close midway through the first half by hitting the outside of the post from the byline.
He attempted to go one better just minutes later from the same position, hooking the ball goal wards before Baye Coulibaly cleared his lines.
And it was Diarra who settled matters late in the second half with a sweeping finish to book his country’s place in the last four.
Soumaila Coulibaly’s side will now take on Les Bleus at Manahan Stadium on 28 November.