Mali continue to defy the odds at the FIFA U-20
World Cup after they booked their place in semi-
finals with a 4-3 win on penalties over Germany
following a well-fought 1-1 draw in Christchurch.
Julian Brandt's opener had put the tournament
favourites ahead, though a Djigui Diarra penalty
save and Souleymane Coulibaly header levelled
things up, leaving the sides level for an hour.
Niklas Stark then fired the crucial spot-kick wide
and sent Fanyeri Diarra's send into dreamland.
The outstanding moment of the opening
passages of play was a disappointing one for the
match, as Germany's top scorer Marc Stendera
was forced off the field, and without him the
tournament's most prolific side struggled to find
their rhythm. Good pressing from the Malians
limited their chances, although the Africans often
struggled to make any themselves.
A couple efforts from distance were all that
brought either goalkeeper into action before
Frank Wormuth's charges broke the deadlock
shortly before the break. A Hany Mukhtar free-
kick couldn't get beyond the defensive wall, but
the ball eventually fell to Brandt, who hit a volley
from the edge of the area that skipped off the
turf and into the bottom corner.
Mali returned after the break looking bright and
up for the challenge. Their early pressure looked
to have been for nothing though after the referee
pointed to the spot for a foul on Jeremy Dudziak.
But the Africans held strong as Mukhtar saw his
effort saved and, within two minutes, parity was
restored.
A foul on the left flank gave Youssouf Kone the
chance to swing a cross into the German area
and Coulibaly met it perfectly. The defender got
free at the front post and his diving header
flashed beyond keeper Marvin Schwaebe and
into the far corner.
Later, a weak back-pass left Malian hearts in
mouths as Hamidou Maiga almost gifted the
Germans a path into the last four. Mukhtar
should also have atoned for his penalty miss, but
directed his header wide, ensuring the game
went to extra-time.
Malick Toure should have put Mali ahead for the
first time when he headed over from three yards
out as the Germans seemed to tire as the
additional 30 minutes wore on. A shootout
always looked like where it was headed though,
and while Adama Traore saw his effort saved,
Brandt then fired over before Stark's off-target
effort saw Europe's two front-runners go out on
spot-kicks in the space of minutes.
source: http://www.supersport.com/football/fifa-u20-world-cup/news/150614/Mali_trip_mighty_Germany

They really tried.

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I'm very happy with this result, it simply shows that the Germans are beat able, when I said our coach lacks the ability to tinker that team, some people said its because I never coached before.
Pls this news must make fp o, so NLders would Know Mali has done it, Senegal also qualified.
#Viva africa! Thumbs down to our 9ja coach.

good one mali. U played with ur heart and ur players were chosen not with sentiments or tribal afiliation.


Shame to manu garba......wooooooooooooooo

Nigerian U20 won African Championship but the coach Manu Garba left most of the guys that won that cup for him and began to field some known players who hardly played together with the winning team and that's the reason we flopped in this tournament. Despite Iheanachos success during U17, he has no business wiith this U20 Team right now since he is recovering from injury and had not played with the team. Nigeria lost it in their 1st march with Brasil and that put us to the wrong track, though Garba realized it but it was too late. This was the same mistake that Keshi made during the Confederation cup and world cup dropping even the Sunday Mba that won the Nation cup for Nigeria. Keshi's own was worse cos he made the same mistake 2 times.

Lesson: do not change the winning team. The African Championship winner team would have won this U20 world cup. Nigerian coaches should learn to use the same team that qualify them for the tournament, Any player that wants to go for a particular tournament should work hard during the qualifying series or risk dropping out

This Malian team is very good. They remind me of certain Nigerian youth team.

The Nigerian team in was simply over hyped nothing special Mali were the actually ay champions ...