Argentina Struggle to Overcome China at Youth Cup


Argentina defeated China 2-1
Hosts Argentina, who scored 12 goals in their last two games, needed a late goal to overcome China 2-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the World Youth Cup on Wednesday.

They were joined in the last eight by Brazil, who hammered Australia 4-0, Egypt, who ousted the United States, and France, who overcame Germany with an injury time goal from tournament topscorer Djibril Cisse.

Argentina looked as if they were going to provide their supporters with another goal feast after Maximiliano Rodrigues gave them a third minute lead in Buenos AireS, taking advantage of slack marking to head home.

But China subdued the Argentine midfield and their efforts were rewarded in the 54th minute when Bo Qu beat German Lux to the ball to equalise.

Argentina finally won the game in the 76th minute when substitute Alejandro Dominguez scored from a rebound after defender Fernando Coloccini's header had hit the crossbar.

Brazil, vying with Argentina for a fourth title, had no such problems in Cordoba where they trounced the Socceroos.

Flamengo striker Adriano opened the scoring in the 27th minute, speeding past a defender and blasting the ball in with his left shot, and added the third in the 63rd minute with an individual goal, his fifth of the competition.

Kaka had put the game out of Australia's reach with the second just after halftime. Eduardo completed the scoring.

Egypt dominated the United States in Buenos Aires but had to wait until the last quarter of an hour for their win after Gamal Hamza missed his second penalty of the competition.

U.S. goalkeeper DJ Countess had an outstanding game but was finally beaten by another penalty, this time taken by Wael Reyad, in the 76th minute. Mohamed El Yamany scored the second following a counter-attack down the right in the 88th minute.

French striker Cisse scored in the third minute of injury time, with his second goal of the game and the seventh of the tournament, to give his team a 3-2 win over Germany in Cordoba.

Benjamin Auer put Germany ahead in the 19th minute but a Cisse penalty and a goal from Bernard Mendy turned the game around before halftime.

Germany equalised 12 minutes from time with an individual goal by second half substitute Thorsten Burkhardt before Cisse settled the game.






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