U-17 World Cup: Mali 1-3 Spain - As it happened

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Oct 25, 2017. 18:24

Welcome to live coverage of the 2017 U-17 World Cup semifinal between Mali and Spain from the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Commentary:
All times CAT

90+6' - Full time - Spain advance to the U-17 World Cup final. Mali will rightly complain that they were denied a legitimate goal, but the boys in red and blue were the better team in this match and deserve the victory.

90+5' - Yellow card - Spain's Jaume is booked for a cynical foul near the edge of his own box.

90+3' - Drame drags a shot just wide, as Mali throw everyone forward in search of another goal.

90+1' - There will be five minutes of added time.

90' - Substitution - Moukhliss makes way for Diego Pampin in Spain's last change.

87' - Yellow card - Camara cautioned just a few minutes after coming off the bench.

85' - Yellow card - Haidara cautioned for a hand in the face of Moukhliss.

84' - Substitution - Seme Camara replaces Doucoure in Mali's last change.

83' - Another Mali chance as a deflected cross makes it awkward for Drame to get a shot away and Fernandez gratefully smothers the low effort.

82' - A promising Mali attack ends with a tame ball into Fernandez's hands. The Young Eagles must make the most of every chance to put Spain under pressure...

79' - Substitution - Ferran makes way for Victor Perea in Spain's second change.

77' - Mamadou Traore with a shot... just off target, that had Fernandez worried! Mali's belief is growing...

74' - GOAL! Mali 1-3 Spain - Or is it done and dusted? Guillamon slips up in defence and N'Diaye continues his scoring form with a fine finish to beat Fernandez at his near post!

72' - That is surely game, set and match in favour of Spain. They will go on to face England in Saturday's semifinal in Kolkata.

71' - GOAL! Mali 0-3 Spain - Gomez chips in a cross from the left and Ferran gets up to score Spain's third goal with a downward header!

69' - Substitution - Mamadou Traore replaces Djemoussa Traore in the second swap for the Africans. Fernandez makes a sharp save at his near post from N'Diaye.

68' - Substitution - Carlos Beitia replaces Gelabert in Spain's first change.

65' - The Mali bench is remonstrating with the referee... they've seen the TV replays on the big screen and know it should have been a goal.

63' - If there was goal-line technology at this tournament, Mali would have been credited with a goal just then! So unlucky for the West Africans!

62' - Doucoure smashes a great long-range effort which hits the underside of the crossbar, bounces over the goal line and back into play, before N'Diaye heads wide from the rebound!

60' - Abel Ruiz with another chance to complete his hat-trick but he curls his shot over the target!

59' - It looks much more likely that Spain will find a third rather than Mali reducing the deficit...

58' - Gomez with a cut-back to find Ferran on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's shot drifts just wide!

57' - Yellow card - Doucoure into the book for a late challenge on Blanco.

54' - Panic in the Mali box after Miranda puts in a floated cross from the left, but eventually the Young Eagles get it clear.

52' - Mali shifting their formation a little after that substitution, hoping to work a way back into this game.

50' - Substitution - Diaby makes way for Mamadi Fofana in Mali's first change.

48' - Abel Ruiz runs in behind the defence and this must be a hat-trick... no, saved by Koita! That was a weak effort from the Spanish striker.

47' - Drame with a shot/cross which runs just too strongly for Traore at the back post.

46' - Back underway in the second half, no changes from either team at the break.

45+3' - Half time - There's not much between the teams in terms of balance of play, but Spain have been more incisive and ruthless in attack and therefore deserve their two-goal lead.

45+2' - Yellow card - Jiddou goes into the book for a rough aerial challenge.

45+1' - There will be two minutes of added time.

43' - GOAL! Mali 0-2 Spain - Spain with a sucker-punch as Gelabert plays a great pass to put Abel Ruiz in on goal and he finishes superbly to make it 2-0!

42' - Doucoure with a downward header from a corner kick, but the ball drifts wide of the far post!

41' - Mali on a dangerous counter which ends with Traore heading over the crossbar from Drame's cross!

40' - Abel Ruiz almost directs a cheeky flick into the back of the net but he's denied by a combination of Koita and Diaby!

38' - Doucoure with an awkward shot on target which Fernandez bats away for a corner kick!

36' - Kane connects well with a long-range effort, but it's always drifting wide of the Spanish goal.

34' - Mali finding it tough to create chances like they did in the opening quarter hour. Spain are keeping it tight at the back.

32' - Almost 2-0 to Spain as Abel Ruiz gets a touch on Miranda's left-flank cross, but the ball flashes just wide!

29' - Gomez cracks a low shot just wide of Koita's left-hand post, but he was offside anyway.

28' - Spain controlling possession now with their passing. The Europeans can afford to sit back and let Mali try and force the issue.

25' - Mali with a free kick just outside the box. Jiddou strikes for goal, but can't lift his effort up and over the wall.

23' - Mali with a free kick in a good attacking position, but Kane's curling cross from the dead ball is well defended by Spain.

22' - Midway through the first half, Mali will need to work hard to get back in the game from this point.

19' - GOAL! Mali 0-1 Spain - Abel Ruiz tucks away the penalty and Spain lead the semifinal!

18' - Penalty! Diaby trips up Gelabert and it's a spot kick to Spain! No doubt about it this time, the referee had no choice but to penalise a clumsy foul in the box.

17' - Jiddou with a long-range effort, but it's over the crossbar and no worry for Fernandez.

15' - Kane with great footwork to set up Traore with a shooting chance, but his effort after a quick turn is just over the angle over crossbar and post!

14' - If anything it's Mali who are looking more comfortable now, knocking the ball around with confidence.

12' - A fine start to this match, both teams more than happy to commit men forward in attack!

9' - N'Diaye almost takes advantage of confusion in the Spanish defence, poking the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Alvaro only to see it run just wide of the near post!

8' - Great footwork from Gelabert on the edge of the box, he makes space for a shot but pulls the ball wide of Koita's left-hand post!

6' - Drame with a shot with the outside of his foot which deflects off a defender and flashes just wide!

5' - Spain's Gelabert tumbles in the box under a challenge from Diaby and Mali are somewhat lucky not to concede a penalty  kick!

3' - The subsequent corner kick brings another heart-in-mouth moment for Mali. Spain have started strongly, they look full of confidence.

2' - Mali goalkeeper Koita with a great save to keep out a volley from Sergio Gomez! Spain very nearly claim an early lead...

1' - Kick-off - We are underway in Navi Mumbai! Mali wear all yellow, while Spain are in red and dark blue.

16h20 - Our referee for this match is Japanese official Ryuji Sato.

16h10 - We can inform you that the winners of this match will face England in the final in Kolkata on Saturday. The English defeated Brazil 3-1 in the first semifinal earlier today, with Rhian Brewster scoring a hat-trick.

16h00 - Half an hour to kick-off, here are the starting XIs:

Mali: Youssouf Koita, Boubacar Haidara, Djemoussa Traore, Fode Konate, Hadji Drame, Salam Jiddou, Abdoulaye Diaby, Mamadou Samake, Ibrahim Kane, Lassana N'Diaye, Cheick Doucoure

Spain: Alvaro Fernandez, Mateu Jaume, Juan Miranda, Hugo Guillamon, Victor Chust, Antonio Blanco, Ferran Torres, Mohamed Moukhliss, Abel Ruiz, Sergio Gomez, Cesar Gelabert