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FIFA U-17 World Championship Wrap [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
It was goals galore on day two of the FIFA U-17 World Championship. Twenty-four goals were scored in four matches between Groups C and D.
Group C
Italy 4, Ivory Coast 3
Seven goals alone is enough for almost any fan to drool over, but three goals in the final four minutes capped off a wicked display of football in Group C’s opener.
Three times Ivory Coast wiped out Italian leads, but the fourth Azzurini lead left not time for the Africans to respond. Christian Tiboni fired Italy into the lead on twenty-one minutes, but the goal only served to awaken the Baby Elephants.
Alassane Diomande had Ivory Coast on level terms within minutes after a skillful lob of Italian goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso. But Tiboni restored the Italian lead five minutes later and the Azzurini took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Ismael Fofana was inserted during half-time and within ten minutes of taking the pitch had the Africans level to set up the insane finish.
It was Matteo Mandorlini scoring for Italy in the 86th minute, but within seconds of the kickoff Koffi Kouassi produced a third equaliser for Ivory Coast.
One minute from time, Mandorlini turned provider for hard-working striker Salvatore Foti for the dramatic Italian winner and cruel Baby Elephant killer.
USA 3, North Korea 2
This match failed to equal the first Group C match in most areas: goals, drama, skill. number of goals.
But despite sloppy play and looking like the Koreans' inferior on several occasions, the Americans were more opportunistic and it paid off in the end.
See a full report at
Group D
Holland 5, Qatar 3
The Dutch never trailed as they got off to a high-flying start in Piura, Peru. Qatar erased two deficits before half-time but could not keep up with the Europeans.
Marvin Emnes was among the Dutch stars, opening the scoring six minutes into the match. Qatar equalised less than five minutes later, however, as Ali Yahya converted from the spot after being brought down in the area.
Jordy Buijs countered with a spot-kick goal of his own to restore Dutch advantage, but once again the opposition equalised, this time through Ali Yusef who punished a Dutch defensive error.
The second half equalled the first for action. Both sides traded shots off the framework, before Holland scored twice in a seven-minute span to lead 4-2 with twenty-five minutes remaining. Yahya soon was taking another penalty for Qatar, but the Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul guessed correctly this time.
Still, Qatar did not go away, pulling within one goal thanks to Khalfan al Khalfan in the 83rd minute.
But Emnes took offence at Qatar's audaciousness and with his second goal of the night just a minute after Kahlfan's, assured Holland of all three points.
Gambia 3, Brazil 1
Brazil led for about five minutes on Saturday but trailed for forty-five. Gambia stunned the South Americans, overturning an absolute wonder goal from Leyrielton for Brazil in just six minutes through Abdoulie Mansally before taking the lead for good when Momodou Ceesay scored at the death of half-time.
Things got worse for the stunned Brazilians when Marcelo was sent off for a reckless challenge five minutes after the restart. Gambia did not translate their numerical advantage on the pitch into a greater advantage on the scoreboard until fifteen minutes remained.
The third goal from the African champions came in controversial fashion from the spot. Ousman Jallow elected to take the penalty and actually had his attempt saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Felipe. But the officials judged Felipe to have moved early and ordered a retake. This time Jallow made no mistake.
The final ten minutes turned ugly, however, as Gambia had two players ejected and Brazil had one more player sent off, meaning the match finished with eighteen players on the pitch instead of the traditional twenty-two.
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