Spain forward Jese scored in stoppage-time as his team came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 and set up a quarter-final against Uruguay at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Tuesday.
The European under-19 champions will be joined by France, who defeated hosts Turkey 4-1 to line up a last-eight meeting with Uzbekistan, 3-1 winners over Greece.
Jese’s strike from outside the area was deflected by Mexico defender Abel Fuentes and goalkeeper Richard Sanchez could only dive over the ball. It was his fifth goal of the tournament.
Photo: AFP
Mexico stunned tournament favorites Spain in the second minute when Arturo Gonzalez came in from the left and sent a diagonal shot past goalkeeper Daniel Sotres.
Spain recovered quickly and found their usual rhythm of short passes and moves in midfield. However, they struggled to reach the forwards against Mexico’s well-placed defense.
The South Americans, who missed suspended midfielder Jesus Escoboza, created danger through quick counterattacks, though Raul Lopez’s header in the 19th minute went just over the bar and a thundering long-range shot by Jorge Espericueta hit the crossbar in the 31st.
Spain continued to dominate possession in the second half as they gained control of the match. The Mexico defense started to falter and Spain finally got the chances they had been looking for.
Captain Paco Alacacer was set up by Jese in the 51st minute, but goalkeeper Sanchez saved his low shot with his left foot.
The game turned around when Mexico left Derik unmarked in the 74th minute when he received a corner-kick at the far post, leaving the defender an easy chance to level.
Nicolas Lopez scored twice in the second half to give Uruguay a 2-1 win over Nigeria, who were down to 10 players just before halftime.
Defender Abdullahi Shehu committed two fouls within two minutes, receiving a straight red card for the second in the 41st minute.
Lopez scored from close range in the 65th minute after the Nigeria defense failed to clear the ball from the penalty area, only for a long-range strike by Olarenwaju Kayode to make it 1-1 four minutes later.
Lopez converted a penalty in the 84th minute after substitute Diego Rolan dribbled past goalkeeper Chukwunenye Okani and was fouled.
Meanwhile, France dominated the first half of their round-of-16 match against Turkey.
Captain Paul Pogba returned from suspension to lead the midfield, while strikers Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Yaya Sanogo were a constant threat to the Turkey defense.
France took the lead after a mistake by Aykut Ozer in the 18th minute. The Turkey goalkeeper dropped the ball after a Bahebeck corner and Geoffrey Kondogbia was on hand to tuck it into the net.
France doubled their lead 13 minutes later when Bahebeck’s header at the near post wrong-footed Ozer.
Turkey battled their way back into the match in the second half, but lacked a finisher, and they left plenty of space while pressing forward in search of a goal.
France striker Florian Thauvin sent a penalty-kick well over the crossbar after Baheback was brought down by Fatih Turan in the 64th minute, but Sanogo and Jordan Veretout added two goals within 10 minutes as they rounded off counterattacks.
Sinan Bakis scored for a consolation for Turkey in the 79th minute.
France now face Uzbekistan, who had never before gone beyond the group stage, but defeated Greece in a match that included three penalties and two red cards.
Uzbekistan took the lead in the 26th minute when Abbosbek Makhstaliev beat Greece goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino at the near post.
Greece captain Konstantinos Stafylidis equalized from the penalty spot seven minutes later, but his team lost control of the game when defender Dimitrios Kourpelis picked up his second booking for a foul in the area after an hour.
Igor Sergeev converted the penalty and Sardor Rakhmanov added another in the 83rd minute.
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