adminBig guns Brazil and Germany advanced at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand yesterday, as minnows Fiji notched their first-ever win at a Fifa tournament.Five-time champions Brazil struggled to overcome a 10-man Hungary 2-1 while Germany dispatched Uzbekistan 3-0, with both teams making the round of 16.
Nigeria boosted their qualification chances with a 4-0 win over North Korea but the feelgood story of the round was Fiji’s 3-0 victory over Honduras.
The Pacific islanders waited 76 years to qualify for their first Fifa tournament, only to be thrashed 8-1 by Germany in their opening game.
Desperate to make amends, they threw caution to the wind against Honduras and attacked from the outset, showing no sign of the nerves that marred their first match.
The reward came in the 14th minute when Setareki Hughes’ pass found an unmarked Iosefo Verovou in the corner of the box and he sent a left-footed shot past the keeper.
Saula Waqa followed up with an opportunistic strike five minutes later and Kevin Alvarez’s own goal made it three on the stroke of half-time.
Shell-shocked Honduras, 4-3 winners against Uzbekistan in their opening game, peppered Fiji’s goal in the second half but keeper Misiwani Nairube proved equal to the challenge.
Fiji’s Australian coach Frank Farina said they now have a real chance of qualifying from Group E, particularly if they can get something from their final match against Uzbekistan.
“Our boys have realised that they can play at this level and that they do deserve to be here,” he said. “We have nothing to lose and we will fight to go through.”
Brazil were almost on the wrong end of an upset after falling behind to Hungary.
The Samba Kings were undone by a simple route one goal in the seventh minute, when the Hungarians pumped the ball forward from deep within their own half to Bence Mervo.
Mervo, a hat-trick hero against North Korea, sent a stinging shot that bobbled out of the keepers’ hands and over the line.
The Europeans were reduced to 10-men in the 16th minute when Krisztian Tamas received a second yellow but marshalled their defence to end the first half unscathed.
Brazilian skipper Danilo equalised in the 50th minute when he was given a free header off a corner.
But Brazil still struggled to find a winner until Andreas Pereira’s 86th minute penalty, awarded after Hungarian keeper Gyorgy Szekely was controversially ruled to have brought down Gabriel Jesus.
There were no such dramas for Germany, who comfortably sailed past Uzbekistan 3-0, including a goal in each half from Frankfurt’s Marc Stendera.
Nigeria, the top African qualifier, were held to a goalless by North Korea in the first half but dominated after the break.
Korean keeper Ri In Hak blundered in the 48th minute, charging out early to meet Musa Muhammed’s cross but leaving space for Saviour Godwin to head into an open goal.
Godwin followed up with a second just minutes later, before Kingsley Sokari scored from a long-range shot and Success Isaac flicked in a tightly angled ball to make it four.
Fixtures
Today: Austria vs Argentina (Wellington Regional Stadium 06:00), Panama vs Ghana (North Harbour Stadium 06:00), Myanmar vs New Zealand (Wellington Regional Stadium 09:00), Ukraine vs USA (North Harbour Stadium 09:00).
Tomorrow: Senegal vs Qatar (Waikato Stadium 03:00), Colombia vs Portugal (Otago Stadium 03:00), Mali vs Uruguay (Waikato Stadium 06:00), Serbia vs Mexico (Otago Stadium 06:00).
Sunday: Honduras vs Germany (Christchurch Stadium 04:00), Fiji vs Uzbekistan (North Harbour Stadium 04:00), Brazil vs Korea DPR (Christchurch Stadium 07:00), Hungary vs Nigeria (Stadium Taranaki 07:00). — AFP
Online Reporter