The “Tricolor” did it. The Mexican youth team qualified for the round of 16 of the U-20 World Cup as second in Group “C” with 5 points and in this way will face the host team Chile (they came second in Group “A” with 3 points).
A goal in the 51st minute through a penalty kick by “La Perla Mexicana” Gilberto Mora, a 16-year-old offensive midfielder, sealed the match on the third and final day held in the city of Valparaíso.
Morocco, which led the group with 6 points, played with the peace of mind that came from knowing that it was already classified, while Mexico faced the match with more need, doing what was necessary to seal its ticket.
In the 30th minute, Mexican striker Mateo Levy lost consciousness after colliding with Moroccan Naim Byar in a set piece, then the player left on a stretcher with his neck immobilized.
During the first half the Aztec team carried the weight of possession, but it was the Africans who had the chances, giving a sense of danger every time they appeared in Ochoa’s area.
The clearest opportunity for Mexico was an attempted shot by Levy on a César Bustos cross that Morocco’s goalkeeper, Gomis, blocked excellently.
And the Africans scared with a point-blank shot from Majni after a set piece in which Ochoa was not successful and left the ball dead, but the Moroccan’s shot crashed into the Aztec defenders.
In the second half, the Mexican squad increased the pace in search of a goal that would give them the pass as second in the group and they found it in the 51st minute through a penalty kick. Mora, with a lot of class, completed his third goal in the World Cup tournament.
Subsequently, Morocco dosed its energies and did little in attack to seek the tie. Mexico tried to increase its advantage, but did not find clear situations, despite handling the ball.
In this way, Morocco and Mexico signed a result that allowed them both to advance to the round of 16 without having to look at what happened in other groups and they gave the surprise in a group of death in which Spain was third and Brazil fourth with only 1 point.
The Mexican team, led by the young Mora, will face the local Chile in the round of 8. final on Tuesday, October 7 (3:30 pm ET) at the Elías Figueroa Brander stadium, in Valparaíso.
Spain waits, Brazil outside
In other results from Saturday’s “U20 World Cup 2025”, the Spanish team beat Brazil 1-0 and eliminated them. The incisive attacker Iker Bravo, at 47′, scored the triumphant goal at the National Stadium in Santiago de Chile.
The Spanish were in third place in Group “C”, with 4 points (-1 goal difference), and are waiting for other results on Sunday to be able to advance as the “best third team” to the round of 16.
In group “D”, the leader and already classified Argentina defeated Italy 1-0 with a goal from Dylan Gorosito (74′) in Valparaiso and finished the first stage of the World Cup with an ideal score (9).
Despite this defeat, the Italians qualified for the next phase of the event by placing in second place with 4 points.
In this same sector, the Australian team beat the eliminated Cuba 3-1 and with 3 points is third in the table although with fewer options to get into the 8th.
(With EFE report)
