Two of the favourites for the Fifa U17 World Cup crown, Mexico and Argentina, gave clear statements of their intent in recording their first victories in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
Defending champions Mexico made amends for their heavy opening defeat against Nigeria, while Argentina moved top of their group following a draw on opening day.
The Nigerians, tipped by many to go all the way, may not have been as ruthless as they were previously, but they still showed their considerable firepower in a frenetic encounter with Sweden. The Europeans were twice in front during the match, but they had to settle for a point come the final whistle.
Shaqran, the tournament mascot, was not the only one to have an aerial view of proceedings in Al Ain during Mexico’s victory over Iraq. Somewhat surprisingly, a solitary man appeared at the summit of a mountain behind one of the stands in the first half at the Khalifa Bin Zayed stadium, enjoying a unique view of the match and witnessing from afar as Alejandro Diaz, Jose Almanza and Ulises Rivas fired Mexico to victory. Despite his vantage point, he was no doubt still unable to rival the famous Hawkeye technology used in various sports.
Canada went into their match with Iran in search of a win that would bring an end to a pair of unfavourable records. However, as against Austria in their opening fixture, the Canucks were held to a draw, their fourth consecutive stalemate at a U-17 World Cup - a run never before witnessed in the tournament’s history. It also extended the side’s win-less streak at the competition to 17 games, something only equalled in Fifa tournaments by Bulgaria (at Fifa World Cups™) and England (at Fifa U-20 World Cups).
For a side to make a substitution within the first half hour or so of a match is rare enough, but for both teams to do so is almost unheard of. Yet that is precisely what happened in Al Ain in the fixture between Sweden and Nigeria. With just 15 minutes on the clock, Sweden’s Isak Ssewankambo was forced off with injury. It was a bitter blow for the central midfielder with African roots, as he was playing his first match at the tournament.
His replacement, Mirza Halvadzic, was rather more fortunate and went on to notch his side’s third goal. Meanwhile, in the 32nd minute, Nigeria striker Success Isaac, one of the early stars of the competition, also left the pitch with injury ten minutes after scoring one of the best goals so far.
European goalkeepers were not at their best this particular matchday. Sweden’s Sixten Mohlin failed in his attempt to block a shot from Musa Yahaya, allowing the ball through his legs to let Nigeria level the scores at 2-2 in the 48th minute. At almost exactly the same time in the game between Argentina and Austria in Dubai, Alexander Schlager conceded in similar fashion to hand the South Americans a 2-1 lead.
Wednesday Fixtures
Group A
Slovakia v United Arab Emirates
Honduras v Brazil
Group B
New Zealand v Ivory Coast
Italy v Uruguay
Slovakia v United Arab Emirates
Honduras v Brazil
New Zealand v Ivory Coast
Italy v Uruguay
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