2019 FIFA U-20 WC: Mali win 1st match, South Africa disappoint

Warsaw, Poland (PANA) - African champions Mali, kept hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive when they grabbed their first win at the ongoing 2019 FIFA under-20 World Cup in Poland.

In their Day 2, Group E match, played on Tuesday at the Gdynia Stadium, Gdynia, the Africans came from behind to defeat Saudi Arabia 4-3, with their goals coming in the 36th, 54th, 70th and 90th minutes.

Saudi Arabia scored their three goals in the 9th, 20th and 63rd minutes.

Mali, which drew 1-1 with Panama in their opening match on 25 May, are in second place in the group with four points behind leaders France (6 points) and ahead of third-placed Panama and bottom-of-the-table Saudi Arabia.

France beat Panama 2-0 in the other Group E, Day 2 match.

In Group F, South Africa is in a rather hopeless situation, having lost heir two matches - 5-2 to Argentina on 25 May and 1-0 to South Korea on Tuesday.

They languish at the bottom of Group F with no point.

In continuation of the tournament on Wednesday, here are Day 3 matches in Groups A and B.

Group A
Senegal (already through to the next round) vs Poland.
Colombia vs Tahiti

Group B
Ecuador vs Mexico
Italy vs Japan

Even with Day 3, group matches yet to be played, the following teams are through to the round of 16.

They are -

Group A
Senegal

Group B
Italy

Group C
New Zealand
Uruguay

Group D
Ukraine

Group E
France

Group F
Argentina

-0- PANA VAO/MA 29May2019