France upsets Brazil

BACOLET (TOBAGO), SEPT. 24. France upset Brazil 2-1 and Nigeria thrashed Australia 5-1 on Sunday, as the two advanced to the semifinals of the FIFA under-17 World championship.

Results of the remaining quarterfinal games to be played on Monday will determine the semifinal matchups. France will play the winner of the Argentina-Mali game, while Nigeria meets the winner of Burkina Faso-Costa Rica. Both semifinal games will be on Thursday.

Against Brazil, a disciplined and persistent French attack opened the scoreboard in the 38th minute of the first half. Stephen Drouin fired off a shot from outside the area. It was deflected and lifted high in the air. Star striker Florent Sinama Pongolle headed it in for the goal. It was the striker's eighth goal in the championship, equalling the under-17 tournament record set by West Germany's Marcel Witeczek in 1985. A minute later there was a breakaway down the left side by the speedy Emmers Fae, who centered it to Pongolle. The small striker, shadowed by a defender, managed a head pass to Anthony Le Tallec. He connected for France's second.

In the 69th, the French defence was defeated by Brazilian midfielder Alberoni. He ran down a long pass and from the edge of the penalty fired it past goalkeeper Florent Chaigneau.

Brazil, which had won all its games in this year's tournament, had won the under-17 in 1999 and also in 1997. Nigeria was led by striker Femi Opabunmi, who had a hat-trick, as the Africans thrashed Australia. In a show of dominance, the Africans scored three goals in six minutes of the second half.

In the 24th minute Omonigho Temile penetrated the Australian defence and was fouled. Opabunmi converted the penalty for the first half's only goal.

In the second half, Nigeria built momentum, then exploded. In the 69th minute, substitute Victor Brown dizzied defenders with his dribbling near the goal-line. He finally centered it to Opabunmi, who drilled it in for his second goal of the game.

In the 79th, Joseph Eyimofe got off a pass to Opabunmi, who rocketed the ball into the ceiling of the goal for his hat-trick.

Two minutes later, Temile found Mohammed Suleiman hovering near the goal with a high center. Suleiman headed it in for Nigeria's fourth.

In the 85th minute, Temile found the nets for Nigeria's fifth with a shot from near the edge of the penalty area.

Australia managed to score a minute later, when a head pass from Spase Dilevski was headed in by Matthew Engele.

Nigeria won the tournament in 1993 and in 1985, its inaugural year. In the last under-17 FIFA championship in 1999, Australia was runner-up.

Both of Sunday's games were played at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago, the smaller partner in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

- AP

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