HIGHLIGHTS.
1. Jamel Idrissou of Italy is first BAD BOY of Chile 2025.
2. Aussies (Australia) out in Group D with Egypt.
3. USA is highest team scorer in single match; beat New Caledonia 9-2.
4. Benjamin Cremaschi of USA is highest score with his hat-trick.
5. Nigeria plays redemption match against Saudi at midnight of Thursday.
The Junior Atlas Lions of Morocco at the wee hours of Thursday morning in Chile brought down another world football Giant country, The Samba Boys of Brazil with a 2-1 drilling in the 2nd group C match to roar into the Knockout stages despite an outstanding group match.
Morocco that had disciplined another world football giant, Spain 2-0 in the first group match got the first goal of the match through Watford FC forward, Othmane Maame in the 60th from an assist from Gessime Yassime.
Yassime who got a goal against Spain again scored the 2nd goal in the 79th minute when Zabiri Yassir gave him a thorough pass only for Brazil to wake up from there deep slumber to fight for goals but despite 12 minutes of added time could only get a VAR approved penalty scored in 90+2 minutes by Da Silva Nogyeira.
In the other group match, Spain played 2-2 with Mexico. Brazil had played 2-2 draw with Mexico in the first group games when Morocco spanked Spain 2-0.
Morocco therefore comfortably sit on top of Group C with 6 points scoring 4 goals and conceding just a goal; Mexico funnily is 2nd with 2 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 4; Brazil and Spain has a point each but Brazil is 3rd with 3 goals for and 4 goals against while Spain is temporary at the bottom with 2 goals scored and 4 conceded.
Meanwhile Inter Milan no 17 shirt for Italy, Jamal Iddrissou who celebrated his 18th birthday on 22nd September emerged the first BAD BOY of the Chile 2025 tournament when he saw red in the 45+3 minute from his second yellow card, the first he got in the 34th minute in the group D match against Cuba.
Italy scored first in the 14th minute from a lone strike of Andrea Natali. Incidentally “BAD BOY” Iddrissou scored Italy’s 2nd goal from a Cama assist in the 31st minute before going early into the shower room (before he was red carded)
Although VAR denied Cuba a penalty in the 45+5 minute, Cuba’s first goal still came via penalty scored in the 70th minute by Michael Camejo. Camejo got the equalizer through another penalty kick in the 87th minute.
Italy will blame themselves forever over this match they had within grips but floundered through lack of clinical finish. They had 21-12 shots at goal; 8-3 shots on target; 11-1 corner advantages; with the only red card of the match going to Iddrissou.
Argentina had beaten Australia 4-1 to top Group D. She has 6 points scoring 7 goals and conceding 2 goals; Italy is 2nd with 4 points scoring 3goals and conceding 2 goals; Cuba is 3rd with only a point scoring 3 goals and conceding 5 goals while Australia is out of the tournament despite an outstanding match having no point scoring one goal and conceding 5 goals.
The highest goals margin in a single match at the tournament was USA 9 New Caledonia 1 in group E where Benjamin Cremaschi got a hat trick from. Six different players has a brace (2 goals) each Nolan Norris – USA; Alejo Sarco-Argentina; Rion Ischiharan-Japan; Michael Camejo-Cuba; Gilberto Mora- Mexico and Hennadiy Synchuk of Ukraine.
Today, Thursday USA meets France at 2100 jours; Columbia faces Norway at 2100 hours; South Africa tackles over whipped New Caledonia at midnight while also at midnight The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will sing redemption song against Saudi Arabia.
Last group matches start tomorrow at 9pm when Ukraine plays Paraguay; Panama also play against South Korea at the same time while at midnight Egypt tackles hosts Chile and New Zealand will face high tech japan. On Saturday at 9pm Mexico decides against tactical Morocco; Brazil plays another super power Spain to stay alive.
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The two top leaders of the group automatically goes into the round of 16 matches of the Knockout stages while the 3rd placed team will compare with other 3rd place losers for the better team to join the Round of 16 stages.
Reigning Champions, Uruguay is missing in Chile as the country was knocked out at the qualifying stages of the South American confederation making the nation the 8th defending champions that failed to defend their status at the U20 world cup.
The 24th edition of the world U20 male football tournament runs from Sunday 2th September to 17th October with 24 nations from six football confederations contesting in four cities of Chile.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFA #Chile2025U20 #CAF #EFF
#NFF #BFA #IFA.
