In a historic achievement, China has advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, following a dramatic 4-3 victory over France in a penalty shootout. The match, held in Rabat, ended in a goalless draw after regular time, pushing both teams into a tense shootout to decide the winner.
The standout performer for China was goalkeeper Niu Ziqi, who played a pivotal role in her team’s success by saving two crucial penalties. The match saw both teams struggle to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, with France controlling much of the first half but failing to convert their chances. China’s performance improved in the second half, thanks to strategic adjustments by coach Ma Xiaoxu, yet neither team managed to score during regulation time.
During the penalty shootout, Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke both successfully netted their attempts for China, while Niu Ziqi blocked a shot from France’s Lea Motyka. As the shootout continued with the teams level at 2-2, Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi secured their penalties for China. Niu Ziqi’s final save against Lisa Mabilon clinched the 4-3 victory, propelling China into the next round.
China reached the knockout stage after topping Group E with an impressive record, winning all their matches. They recorded convincing victories over Kenya (3-0), Samoa (7-0), and a closely contested win against the United States (3-2), securing their place at the summit of the group.
Looking ahead, China is set to face Brazil in the quarterfinals on November 1. Brazil advanced to this stage after a thrilling 8-7 penalty shootout win against Poland, following a 3-3 draw. This upcoming match promises to be another exciting encounter as both teams vie for a place in the semifinals.