2023 FIFA U-17 WC: France beat 10-man Mali 2-1 to reach final
Jakarta, Indonesia (PANA) - A dramatic second period saw France score twice to come from behind and defeat Mali 2-1 to book their place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 final.
Mali started the brighter of the two sides and called Paul Argney into action twice inside the first 10 minutes. The France keeper denied captain Ibrahim Diarra with a fine sprawling save, before making himself big again soon after to thwart Ibrahim Kanate.
Mali would eventually break the deadlock in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time - becoming the first team to net against France in more than 500 minutes of U-17 World Cup football in the process - when Diarra tapped home after Argney flapped at a Barry cross from the left.
The game would, though, be turned on its head inside just 60 seconds shortly after the restart. First, a high challenge by Mali defender Souleymane Sanogo earned him a straight red card in the 55th minute following an on-field review. Then, from the resulting free-kick in the 56th minute, Ismail Bouneb found the head of Yvann Titi, who made no mistake in glancing the ball home.
France would complete the comeback just 13 minutes later. Bouneb stood over another free-kick, but this time found himself in shooting range, and converted superbly, whipping the ball low to the goalkeeper's left and into the bottom corner.
The ten men of Mali, to their credit, continued to push and came within a whisker of equalising in the dying moments. Hamidou Makalou fired a rocket of a free-kick towards goal, but Argney was again defiant, and touched the ball on to the crossbar.
France will now face Germany in the final on Saturday, while Mali will take on Argentina in Friday's match for third place.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup final match between Germany and France is a repeat of the UEFA European U-17 Championship final from June. Germany emerged victorious on that occasion, winning 5-4 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in Budapest.
-0- PANA MA 28Nov2023
