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FIFA U-17 World Championship Wrap: China, Mexico and Turkey progress [Tue Sep 20th, 2005]
Group A
Ghana 1, Costa Rica 1
A tepid match sprang to life between Ghana and Costa Rica after a scoreless first half, when Celso Borges headed in a corner kick from Esteban Rodriquez to hand the Ticos the lead. Ghana, however, did not get discouraged by the deficit, instead using it as motivation.
Eleven minutes later the West Africans were celebrating a terrific direct free kick equaliser off the boot of Jonathan Quartey.
The match ended 1-1, but not without intent from both sides to break the deadlock. Costa Rica were the aggressors going forward, but it was Ghana, with several menacing counterattacks, who threatened to take all three points.
Ghana and Costa Rica share second place in Group A, because they are level on points (2) as well as goals scored (2) and surrendered (2).
Peru 0, China 1
Peru were dealt a huge blow when they lost to China on Monday. The tournament hosts still control their own destiny as a win over Costa Rica will see them through to the knockout stage. For the Asian champions, however, the victory assures them a spot in the next stage.
The South Americans tried desperately to overturn Deng Zhuoxiang’s impressive long-range goal, which came just before the quarter-hour mark. But it was not to be for Peru, despite a clear advantage in clear-cut chances, something the Chinese manager even admitted to afterwards.
Group B
Mexico 3, Australia 0
With Giovani dos Santos in the starting lineup, Mexico dominated Australia from the opening whistle. It was the Barcelona starlet who set up Omar Esparza for the first goal in the 20th minute. Dos Santos created the second goal just before half-time, expertly picking out Carlos Vela who volleyed home.
The third goal involved who else - dos Santos. It was his powerful shot which Australian goalkeeper Alex Vrteski could not gather cleanly, and Vela was on hand to slam home his second goal of the match. The victory means the Tricolor qualify for the next stage in style and can rest several regulars in their final group match against Turkey.
Turkey 3, Uruguay 2
Turkey came from behind to devastate Uruguay whist booking their own passage into the next round. The European champions opened the scoring on twelve minutes through a Deniz Yilmaz header from a corner kick.
The Charruas countered, however, benefiting from an unfortunate own goal by Turkey’s Murat Duduer later in the first half, and from a delicious Elias Figueroa strike with only fifteen minutes to play.
But the Turks scored twice over the final ten minutes to steal the three points while eliminating Uruguay.
Substitute Ozgurcan Ozcan willed a goal past goalkeeper Jonatan Irrazabal on 80 minutes, and Tevfik Kose found the decisive score on 84 minutes.
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