The Katukatus of Solomon Island of the Oceanic Islands left the world U17 male soccer championship terribly wounded as the team won no match, drew no match, lost all the three group matches, fired blank (scored no goal) and conceded a record 20 goals. It was the most miserable score card for any team at that competition.
ALSO READ: Eaglets versus Oranje of Holland in R16
The team predictably in the early hours of Monday in Brazil lost in the highest goals conceded in a single match of the tournament by 8 goals to nil to Mexico. Three goals were chipped in as at the first half of the group F encounter. The 8 goal victory of Mexico is 5 goals less of the biggest victory margin of Spain versus New Zealand 13-0 in 1997.
Three players’ bagged braces in the match (brace means scoring two goals in a match), namely Efraim Alvarez (21’, 63’); J. Molina (33’, 80’) and J. Lopez (58’, 90) while L. Prado and A. Vega scored a goal each. Paraguay lashed the Katukatus of Solomon Islands 7-0 after Italy had drowned the Katukatus Islanders 5-0 at the opening match.
In the other match, Paraguay shocked Italy 2-1 to top the group. L. Pirola of Italy opened scoring at 3’, D. Garcete equalized for Paraguay 37’ while J. Quinonnez clinched the winner 51’.
Paraguay emerged winners of group F with 9 points scoring 9 goals and conceding 1; Italy placed second with 6 points scoring 8 goals and conceding 3; Mexico sneaked into the best loser’s category with 4 points scoring 9 goals and conceding 1 goal while the Solomon Islanders had no point scored no goal but were whipped 20 times.
That meant Paraguay, Italy and Mexico qualify for the round of 16 from this group.
– ENIOLA OLATUNJI.