There is no denying
that goals were in short supply over the first couple of days of the
Saudi Arabia had not
won a single FIFA U-20 World Cup match in nine FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia
2011.Matchday 3 helped raise the goal average,however,with Nigeria putting five
past Guatemala and Spain inflicting a heavy defeat on Costa Rica.It had been a
slow start to the competition for the CONCACAF contingent,with three
defeats,ten goals conceded and not a single goal scored.Guatemala will
certainly not forget their opening match in a hurry,after they conceded five
against the Flying Eagles.The region did enjoy one bright moment,though,with
Costa Rica’s John Ruiz’s with the soccer jerseys wholesale
becoming Colombia 2011?s youngest scorer at 17 years and 193 days.Africa’s
representatives had not fared much better,with Mali losing to Korea
Republic,Cameroon drawing with New Zealand,and Egypt finishing all square with
Brazil.That was until Nigeria entered the fray with their emphatic victory over
the Guatemalans.
Forward Edafe
Egbedi,currently without a club,scored a brace to go top of the scoring chart
alongside Rodrigo and Luis Muriel with the National
Team Soccer Kit. Saudi Arabia,however,were the protagonists of the day’s
biggest story,beating Croatia to record their first victory in the competition
after a winless streak stretching back 22 years.The emphatic scoreline may
suggest otherwise,but Spain were made to work hard for their win against Costa
Rica.La Roja did enjoy some breathing space along the way,however,thanks to a
wonderful goal from midfielder Koke.Isco’s long ball in from the left was intelligently
headed on by Alvaro Vazquez,before Koke side-footed home a perfectly placed
shot.The loss of Sergio Canales to injury before the tournament was a real
cause for concern for Spain.Everyone,that is,except Rodrigo,who had the task of
filling the influential midfielder’s boots.With two goals and a strong
performance against Costa Rica,the Brazilian-born forward proved he is not in
Colombia just to make up numbers.
He was cheered on by
his Brazilian grandmother,who watched from the stands draped in a Spanish
flag.“I’m very excited,”she told Colombian TV after the match.“I can’t explain
how I felt watching my grandson score.”Even Nigerian goalkeeper Dami Paul was
keen to get in on the act during the Flying Eagles’impressive attacking display
against Guatemala with the Argentina
National Team Soccer Jerseys.The keeper left his area to collect
the ball in the 66th minute and,under pressure from two opponents,managed to
clear the danger.It was a move that encapsulated his side’s confident
performance and the style with which they achieved the result.It was also a
daring piece of skill that delighted the crowd in Armenia,although coach John
Obuh may not have been quite so impressed.In the 24th minute,the Australian
fans in the stands in Manizales were momentarily silenced as Ecuador scored.It
is never quiet for long when Socceroo fans are around,though,and as one
supporter led with a cry of“Aussie Aussi Aussi”,the rest came back with a reply
of“Oi,Oi,Oi!”It certainly amused the Colombian crowd,who showed their
appreciation for the travelling fans with a round of applause.The support was
not wasted,as Australia
equalised two minutes from time with a superb free-kick from Tommy Oar.outings(going
back to 1989)before matchday three of this year’s tournament.That winless
streak is now over,thanks to an excellent victory over Croatia.It was the first
defeat the eastern Europeans had suffered at the hands of a team from the Asian
zone at any level. Croatia with the Argentine
National Shirt Soccer can take heart from the fact that last
time the Saudis won,their opponents,Portugal,went on to win the
competition.1,990–The number of goals scored in the FIFA U-20 World Cup since
the inaugural edition back in 1977.Spain’s Rodrigo is the goalscorer whose name
will go down in the competition’s history books.The first day of August marks
the start of the second round of group matches.In Barranquilla,Egypt take on
Panama while Brazil face Austria.Mexico are up against Korea DPR in
Medellin,along with Argentina and England,who resume their rivalry in the final
match of the day.
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