U-20 World Cup 2017 Results: Italy, USA, Mexico Advance to Quarter-Final Stage

Italy booked their place in the quarter-final of the Under-20 FIFA World Cup on Thursday as they saw off France 2-1 in Cheonan, South Korea. 

The USA and Mexico completed the quarter-final lineup as they also won their round-of-16 matches. The Americans thrashed New Zealand 6-0 with a stunning performance, while Mexico edged past Senegal 1-0 in the early kick-off.

They joined Portugal, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and England in the quarter-finals.

Thursday Recap

France started their match with Italy on the front foot, but it was their opponents who had the first efforts of note as Giuseppe Panico and Mattia Vitale each sent strikes off target in quick succession.

The Azzurrini broke the deadlock when Riccardo Orsolini volleyed home Giuseppe Pezzella's whipped cross. Scouted Football was impressed with their efforts:

Jean-Kevin Augustin replied from the penalty spot before half-time before Panico put the Italians back in front with a powerful header.

Goalkeeper Andrea Zaccagno held firm despite subsequent pressure from France, meaning Orsolini's disallowed third would not prove costly to Italy. 

Meanwhile, Goal USA's Ives Galarcep noted early in the Americans' contest with New Zealand that the match would provide useful practice for the quarter-final, should they get there:

The United States did indeed keep the ball well and dominated possession throughout, finishing the match with 60 per cent, per the tournament's official website.

Tab Ramos' charges controlled the game from the outset and eventually took the lead when Brooks Lennon picked out Justen Glad from a corner, and the right-back's shot deflected in off Josh Sargent—his fourth goal of the competition.

Jeremy Ebobisse made it 2-0 when he collected a high ball on the edge of the area before turning and unleashing a vicious effort into the roof of the net. Brooks Lennon raced on to a long ball before finishing well to score a third.

Glad added a header before Auston Trusty lashed into the top corner from inside the area. Lagos Kunga rounded out the scoring after a neat one-two with Luca de la Torre. ESPN's Taylor Twellman was impressed:

In the day's earlier kick-off, Ronaldo Cisneros made the difference with an 89th-minute winner for Mexico.

Senegal perhaps shaded a close first half, and they would have taken the lead if not for Abraham Romero keeping out Ibrahima N'Diaye's low effort and Akhibou Ly missing from close range on the follow-up.

El Tri improved after the break, helped further by Alioune Gueye's dismissal after 71 minutes for two bookable offences.

Substitute Cisneros scored the winner when he converted Diego Aguilar's low ball across the six-yard box.

Mexico will take on England, while Italy face Zambia on Monday, a day after the USA play Venezuela.