2023 FIFA U-17 WC: Morocco beat hosts Indonesia to seal last-16 progress
Surabaya, Indonesia (PANA) - Morocco beat Indonesia 3-1 in Surabaya to secure top spot in Group A of the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and leave the hosts facing elimination.
The result leaves Indonesia in third spot with two points – and they hold only very slim hopes of qualifying as one of the four best third-place teams, FIFA.com reported.
Morocco hit the front from the penalty spot after 29 minutes, Anas Alaoui clinically converting after Mohamed Hamony was fouled in the area.
Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal put them 2-0 ahead, heading home from a corner delivery.
Indonesia regrouped and pulled a goal back in the 42ns minute, Nabil Asyura’s stunning fre-kick sending a feverish home crowd wild.
They pressed for a leveller in the early stages of the second half but were unable to break through a stubborn Morocco backline. And the Atlas Cubs made the win and qualification safe when Hamony lashed home on 64 minutes.
Indonesia now require other results to go their way in Groups E and F to have any chance of reaching the knockout phase.
In the other Group A match, a hard-fought 1-1 draw between Ecuador and Panama saw the South Americans advance to the knockout phase while Panama return home bottom of the group.
Ecuador had the first chance of note in the 22nd minute, when Yandri Vasquez broke through the Panama defence, only to be denied by a fine Manuel Romero save.
The reprieve would be short-lived, though, as Ruiz rose highest from the subsequent corner to head home the opener in the 24th minute.
La Tri appeared to be cruising through as group winners until the 79th minute, when Panama hotshot Castillo chased on to a flick on and powered through two Ecuador defenders, before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping home.
The result ensured Ecuador will finish as runners-up in Group A and will now face the second-placed side from Group C.
-0- PANA MA/RA 16Nov2023
