China Beat USA 3-2 at U-17 Women's World Cup
China beat the United States 3-2 to top Group E at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco on October 25, while Australia were knocked out.
The match, played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, began in dramatic fashion. China took the lead in the seventh minute when Liu Yuxi scored with a right-footed shot from inside the box. It was the first time the United States had trailed at the tournament. Liu later added a brilliant individual goal for her second, and Zhao Jiayi scored the other, after a pass from Wu Yichen.
The United States dominated the ball, with 72 per cent possession, and outshot China 20 to 12. Their expected goals figure was 2.34, compared with 0.94 for China, but they put only four shots on target. China sat deep with a compact defence and hit on the counter. Goalkeeper Niu Ziqi's long clearances also troubled the American defence.
The US scored an offside goal through Amari Manning in the fifth minute that was ruled out. They did pull one back through Maddie DiMaria, whose goal was her 11th of the tournament. That is a record for the most goals by a single player in one FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The US scored again in the 97th minute of an 11-minute stoppage period through substitute Isa Ortiz, but it was not enough to level the game.
China finished top of the group with nine points from three wins. They scored 13 goals and conceded two, having earlier beaten Kenya 3-0 and Samoa 7-0. The United States finished second on six points. China now face France in the Round of 16 on Thursday, October 29, and the Americans meet Spain, who won all three of their group games.
In Group F, Australia were eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to Mexico. The tournament debutants finished with only one point. Citlalli Reyes scored the winner in the 35th minute, on her record 13th tournament appearance, finishing a flowing move with a low drive into the bottom corner. Mexico also hit the woodwork twice. Mexico go through to the Round of 16, where they play Nigeria on Thursday.