China has made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, following a thrilling 4-3 victory over France in a penalty shootout. The match in Rabat ended in a goalless draw after regular time, leading to the decisive penalties.
Goalkeeper Niu Ziqi played a pivotal role in China’s victory, making two crucial saves during the shootout. Despite France’s dominance in the first half, they failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. China’s performance improved after halftime, thanks to tactical adjustments by coach Ma Xiaoxu, but both teams remained scoreless.
In the penalty shootout, Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke successfully converted China’s initial attempts, while Niu Ziqi saved France’s effort from Lea Motyka. With the teams tied at 2-2, Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi stepped up to score for China. Niu then secured the victory by saving Lisa Mabilon’s shot, finalizing the 4-3 win.
China’s journey to the knockout stage was marked by impressive performances, as they topped Group E with three consecutive victories. They defeated Kenya 3-0, Samoa 7-0, and the United States 3-2 to clinch first place in their group.
Looking ahead, China will face Brazil in the quarterfinals on November 1. Brazil earned its spot in the last eight after overcoming Poland 8-7 in another penalty shootout, following a 3-3 draw in their match.