In a historic achievement, China’s U17 women’s soccer team reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time by defeating France 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The match, held in Rabat, saw both teams struggle to break the deadlock during regular time, resulting in a tense shootout to decide the winner.
China’s goalkeeper, Niu Ziqi, emerged as the standout performer of the match. She played a crucial role by saving two penalties, first from Lea Motyka and later from Lisa Mabilon, ensuring China’s advancement to the next round. The match concluded with neither side able to score in regular time despite several promising opportunities. France dominated the first half but could not capitalize on their chances, while China improved in the second half due to strategic adjustments made by coach Ma Xiaoxu.
During the penalty phase, China began strongly with successful attempts from Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke. After a brief equalizing effort from the French team, Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi stepped up to convert their penalties, sealing a 4-3 victory for China.
China’s path to the knockout stage was marked by impressive performances in the group stage, where they topped Group E with three consecutive victories. They defeated Kenya 3-0, Samoa 7-0, and the United States 3-2, showcasing their competitive edge.
Looking ahead, China will face Brazil in the quarterfinals on November 1. Brazil also secured their spot in the last eight following a dramatic 8-7 penalty shootout victory over Poland, after their match ended in a 3-3 draw.