Spain see off France with lastgasp penalty
European U17 champions leave Les Blues heartbroken with a winner in dying moments, enter last eight
the attack. A lapse by Vincent Collet and Oumar Solet helped Spain equalise in the 44th minute.
As the match – tied 1-1 till the final minute – seemed headed for a penalty shootout, Solet brought down Jose Lara, brought in as a substitute for forward Cesar Gelabert. Captain Ruiz converted the penalty to send Spain into the last eight of the competition.
The two European heavyweights, familiar with each other’s tactics, played cautiously in the first half. But the Spaniards had French playmaker Yacine Adli and striker Amine Gouiri, the tournament’s leading goal scorer, marked.
Spain came close to scoring in the 19th minute when striker Ferran Torres headed a free-kick from skipper and forward Sergio Gomes millimetres above the bar.
The pace of the match changed when Gouri and forward Lenny Pintor swapped roles. Off a Guoiri pass, Pintor moved into the Spain box from the left flank to help France go 1-0 up in the 34th minute.
A minute before half-time, Spain equalised through defender Juan Miranda who made an unmarked run into the France box to meet striker Ferran Torres’s cross from the right flank. The equaliser energised Spain with Gomes making France goalie Yahia Fofana stretch to save in the 56th minute. But Gomes missed a free-kick opportunity a few minutes later.
The opportunity came in the form of a penalty that Ruiz converted, as Spain pushed hard in the final minutes.
“It was a difficult game well fought, and could have gone either way. I think our boys are peaking at the right time, and the changes on the field worked for us,” Spain coach Santiago Denia said. His France counterpart Lionel Rouxel said, “The penalty was a mistake our boys have to learn from.”
MALI THRASH IRAQ 5-1 MARGAO:MALI sailed into the quarterfinals as they outplayed Iraq for a resounding 5-1 victory in a round of 16 clash. Mali scored through Hadji Drame (25th minute), Lassana N’diaye (33rd, 90+4)), Fode Konate (73rd) and substitute Seme Camara (87th).
Iraq reduced the margin in the 85th minute through Ali Kareem.
Spain 2 (Miranda 44’, Abel Ruiz 90’ pen) Mexico 1 (Rosa 37’)
FRANCE CAME INTO THE EVENT NOT AS ONE OF THE FOUR AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS FROM EUROPE BUT AFTER FEATURING IN A FIFTH PLACE PLAYOFF MATCH.
France 1 (Pintor 34’)