China edged out the USA 3-2 to top Group E of the FIFA Under-17 Women\u2019s World Cup in Morocco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coming into the game, the USA and China had already secured spots in the knockout round, but with the loss, the USA fell to second in the group and will now face Group F winners Spain in the Round of 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American forward Amari Manning, who was consistently dangerous on the left wing,\u00a0put the ball in the net in the fifth minute but was ruled offside, a call that was confirmed by the Video Support System. Off the ensuring free kick, China goalkeeper Niu Ziqi smashed her kick far over the midfield line. The ball took a big bounce over the U.S. back line and into the path of Liu Yuxi, who raced in at goal and finished well, tucking her shot just inside the left post from the right corner of the six-yard box. It was the first time the Americans had been behind and now they would chase the game for 90-plus minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A committed USA came out strong in the second half, but goalkeeper Avellina Saunders had to keep the score at 1-0 with a big diving save in the 57th minute off a well-struck shot from Fang Zhenzhu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The USA pushed hard for an equalizer \u2013 Manning’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was deflected over the crossbar by a retreating defender and in the 66th Niu did well to corral a dangerous cross from Maddie DiMaria without giving up a rebound \u2013 and in the 69th minute the USA tied it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manning did a great job on the left wing to work herself free from two defenders to make room for a cross and flighted her service to the post for DiMaria, who headed down and in from close range to tie the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately for the USA, China answered right back, as Wu Yichen sped down the left wing and cut a pass to Zhao Jiayi in the middle of the box. She took a touch to her right and spun her shot into the lower right corner from 13 yards out past the diving Saunders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With plenty of time to get another equalizer and win the group, the USA continued to push, but it was China who got the next goal, a brilliant individual effort from Liu to earn her a brace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With six minutes of stoppage time given, and an eventual 11 minutes played, the USA pulled a goal back at 90+7 through substitute Isa Ortiz but could not produce another and will now face a Spain team that won all three of its group games, beating Chile, Mexico and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco campaign to an end following a 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their Group F tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The loss meant tournament debutants Australia finished with a point, which was not enough for them to seal a spot in the next stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citlalli Reyes made the difference for Mexico on her record-breaking 13th tournament appearance to see El Tri<\/em> into the knockouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first chance of the game fella Mexico’s way, as Mia Urbano bundled her way into the area and sent a left-footed curler towards goal which crashed off the crossbar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia wouldn’t escape next-time, though, as Reyes finished off a flowing move with a low drive into the bottom corner in the 35th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Natalia Perez came closest to doubling the North American sie’s lead in the second half when her edge-of-the-box drive also rebounded off the woodwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One, however, proved to be enough for the Mexicans, who will now tackle Nigeria in the last 16 on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mexico bt Australia 1-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spain bt Chile 3-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n China bt USA 3-2<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenya bt Samoa 4-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" China edged out the USA 3-2 to top Group E of the FIFA Under-17 Women\u2019s World Cup in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[430],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t