U-17 World Cup: Mali, England advance to semis

England U-17 World Cup

England and Mali won their respective quarter-finals at the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Saturday to advance to the last four of the competition.

Goals from Hadji Drame in the 15th minute and Djemoussa Traore’s 61st minute strike helped Mali beat Ghana in the quarter-finals in Guwahati. A late Mohammed Kudus penalty was not enough as the Malians advanced to the last four.

Drame gave Ghana the lead when his strike from the right side of the small box found the top-right corner beyond Ibrahim Danlad. Ibrahim Sulley thought he had pulled a goal back just before the break, though it was ruled out for a foul against his team in the build-up.

Danlad gifted the Malians a costly second after he rushed out of his box to clear a long ball but fluffed his effort, and Traore struck home with relative ease.

Sadiq Ibrahim earned a penalty for his team in the 70th minute which Mohammed Kudus converted, but it ended 2-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.

In the day’s second quarter-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, a superb hat trick from Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster was the major reason behind England U-17’s 4-1 victory over USA’s U-17s.

After picking up an early strike in the 11th minute, he completed his brace three minutes later from Philip Foden’s assist. Morgan Gibbs-White also got in on the act in the 64th minute from a Brewster assist.

Joshua Sargent scored a consolation goal for the Americans, though the win put to bed deep into stoppage time as Brewster added his third from the penalty spot after an England player was fouled in the box.