2023 FIFA U-17 WC: Magnificent Mali maul Mexico
Suabaya, Jakarta (PANA) - Mahamoud Barry scored twice and laid on another as Mali stormed through to the last eight with a stunning demolition of CONCACAF champions, Mexico, in the last 16 of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023, in Surabaya.
Les Aigles were irresistible throughout, with the outcome all-but settled inside a one-sided opening 15 minutes in which the outclassed Mexicans conceded three times, FIFA.com reported.
Barry was the difference-maker during this period, with his superb opening goal – curled home from 20 yards at the end of a flowing Mali move – on 9 minutes setting the tone for what was to follow.
The athletic No 19’s second goal came just four minutes later, and from a near-identical position, with clever approach work again capped by a powerful and precise finish from inside the D.
Mexico simply had no answer to their African opponents, and fell further behind soon after in the 15th minute when Ibrahim Diarra’s left-foot effort sneaked past Paolo Bedolla and into the bottom-left corner.
The CONCACAF champions’ keeper was left thumping the ground in frustration again when Mali went 4-0 up, having again got a hand to the ball, but not a firm enough contact to prevent Ibrahim Kanate’s penalty finding the net in the 37th minutes.
Mali’s dominance was maintained in the second half, and Barry helped apply salt to Mexican wounds with a teasing 50th-minute cross that was matched in quality by Ange Martial Tia’s brilliant diving header.
The impressive Africans can now look forward to a quarter-final against either Iran or continental rivals Morocco, the team that beat them on penalties in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
0- PANA MA 21Nov2023
