Holders Nigeria have reached their second consecutive final thanks to a thrilling 4-2 victory against Mexico in Concepcion on Thursday.
Mexico opened the scoring through Kevin Magana, with stunning efforts from Kelechi Nwakali and Orji Okwonkwo seeing the African side ahead. Diego Cortes’s remarkable solo effort levelled matters, before Osinachi Ebere and Victor Osimhen’s late record-equalling penalty saw the Golden Eaglets into an all-African final against Mali.
Mexico controlled the ball in the opening stages of the match, and took the lead early on. Kevin Lara beat his man on the Mexican right and delivered a teasing cross into the middle. Aguirre tried to control with his chest, but Magana took charge and fired home.
Emmanuel Amuneke’s side began to grow into the game, with Kelechi Nwakali hitting a low drive from the edge of the Mexican penalty area with his venomous drive stinging the palms of Romero before the ball was cleared away.
The game see-sawed back Mexico’s way, with a free-kick from the Mexican left headed goalwards by Jose Esquivel. The chance forced a superb point blank stop by Akpan Udoh, onto the crossbar and eventually cleared behind.
Nigeria rode their luck, with a couple of good Mexican opportunities and after riding the storm, managed to level things up thanks to the superb technique of their captain. Nwakali lined up a free-kick from around 25 yards, and curled a perfect effort into the bottom left-hand corner. Romero stood no chance.
Amuneke’s charges sensed their opponents were on the back foot, and Okwonkwo took advantage, producing one of the moments of the tournament to see his side ahead. He cut inside from the left onto his right foot and thumped an effort in off the crossbar.
After the break, Mexico took time to reassert their rhythm after the shock of going behind. Cortes then stepped up to score what must be considered one of the best goals ever scored in the Estadio Ester Roa. He picked up the ball on the Mexican right just inside the Nigerian half and proceeded to dribble past five players, showing incredible close control before slotting calmly past Udoh.
Nigeria were undeterred by Cortes’s golazo and struck back. Ebere found space on the Nigerian right just inside the Mexican penalty area after a long through ball. His right-footed effort was too strong for Romero, who got a hand to the strike but could not keep it out.
John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexican penalty area, giving Osimhen the chance to score his ninth goal of Chile 2015 and go level at the top of the all-time U-17 World Cup goalscoring charts. He slotted home with ease, adding gloss to the Golden Eaglets victory.
Nigeria head to Vina Del Mar on Sunday for an all-African final against continental champions Mali while Mexico will face off against Belgium in the match for third place earlier the same day.
MALI EDGE BELGIUM
Mali reached their first ever Fifa Under-17 World Cup final courtesy of a resounding come-from-behind 3-1 victory against Belgium.
The Europeans had taken the lead through Dante Rigo, but Boubacar Traore’s swift response was followed by second half goals from Sidiki Maiga and Sekou Koita.
Belgium took the lead thanks to a sumptuous through ball by Jorn Vancamp. The No 19 found space in between the Malian midfield and defence and lofted a pass with the outside of his right foot to the onrushing Rigo. The midfielder showed great composure to finish for his second goal in two games, and end Mali’s run of over 300 minutes without conceding at Chile 2015.
The Malians struck back swiftly. Aly Malle matched Vancamp’s assist with a delicious cross of his own with the outside of his left foot. The ball missed everyone but Traore followed in, lashing home from inside the penalty area.
The remainder of the first half saw the two sides exchange attacks, and it was clear for all to see that these teams knew each other inside out, after their meeting in their opening Group D fixture.
There was an element of fortune to the goal that gave the Africans’ the advantage after the break. A long clearance pumped upfield by the Malian defence was misread by Teunckens, the bounce deceiving the Belgian ‘keeper. Maiga nipped in to nod home with the Club Brugge stopper stranded.
The win was rubberstamped in the closing stages as Koita, the youngest player on either side, showed composure beyond his years. He received the ball in the Belgian penalty area on the right-hand side and slammed a finish across Teunckens into the far corner.
