Argentina took the next step toward defending its FIFA U-20 World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Mexico in Sunday night's quarter-final matchup at Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium.
Midfielder Maximiliano Moralez's goal with seconds remaining in the first half advances Argentina to the semifinals against Chile on Thursday night (CBC, 7:30 p.m. ET) in Toronto.
Maximiliano Moralez celebrates his goal against Mexico that advances Argentina to the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
The Chileans assured their appearance in the final four by destroying Nigeria 4-0 in Montreal on Sunday.
"I'm really happy about our team," Moralez said through a translator, "[but] Chile is going to be difficult."
The victory also extends Argentina's unbeaten streak to 11 games, dating back to the 2005 tournament in the Netherlands.
The defending five-time world champions — winners of four of the last six crowns — can improve on their own title record with two more victories.
"It was a very hard game. It was very even," Argentina coach Hugo Tocalli said. "Moralez was a key player for us.
"When we left Argentina, we had a meeting with the players and we had two goals: One was to win our group and the second was to play seven games in the competition. Today we reached that goal."
After surviving several good scoring opportunities by a tough Mexican side, Argentina broke the scoreless deadlock in the dying seconds of the first half.
Forward Angel Di Maria fed a beautiful no-look pass to Moralez, who buried a shot off Mexican defender Julio Cesar Dominguez and past goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco.
"It was bad fortune, but we know football is like that," Blanco said.
The goal was Moralez's third of the U-20 World Cup.
On the attack
It didn't take long for Argentina to go on the attack, providing the first scoring chance of the match in the third minute.
Di Maria sailed a shot toward Blanco, who made a leaping effort to lift the ball over the net.
Mexico responded with an even better chance 10 minutes later. Forward Carlos Vela managed to drive the ball through Sergio Romero, but the Argentine goalkeeper got enough of the ball with his leg to redirect it wide of the right post.
Vela, scoreless in fives games of the tournament, came close once again in the 31st minute as his spinning shot in the penalty area hit the left post.
The first half featured several moments of pushing and shoving, although Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco only warned both sides without handing out yellow cards.
It was clear at the start of the second half that Argentina's interest was mostly with clamping down defensively, challenging every ball possessed by the Mexican side.
"We expected Argentina to be defensive, but, after the goal, they sat and we could never go over the wall," Blanco said.
The only real solid chance belonged to Argentina in the 73rd minute. Forward Sergio Aguero raced to the left side of the penalty area and fired a low shot that was stopped by Blanco.
Tempers only intensified in the second half with Mallenco giving out three yellow cards apiece to both sides.
With files from the Canadian Press
