SPORTS Thursday, October 12, 2017 23 Portugal end

LisbonSwiss winning runclear in the 78th minute but uropean champions he over-elaborated as he tried Portugal qualified for to get around Yann Sommer nextE year’s World Cup with and allowed the goalkeeper to a convincing 2-0 home win claim the ball. over Switzerland on Tuesday, The Swiss were cool and ending their rivals’ perfect comfortable for the first half record in Group B after an hour, stringing together some own goal by Johan Djourou neat moves in midfield, while set them on their way. Portugal were let down by With Bernardo Silva giving poor crossing and struggled to one of his best performances get the ball to Ronaldo. for his country, the Portuguese But after Silva had a rasping did not even need a goal drive tipped away by Sommer, from their captain Cristiano the hosts moved up a gear and Ronaldo as they pulled level went ahead with the help of on 27 points with Switzerland some defensive misfortune for and won the group on goal the visitors. difference. Eliseu fired in a low cross Djourou put the ball which Sommer parried, only through his own net four for the ball to ricochet off minutes before halftime and Djourou into the net. Andre Silva sealed the victory The hosts took control after in the 57th minute with his the break and scored again ninth goal of the campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Portugal vies with Stephan Lichtsteiner (L) of Switzerland during the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers Group B match with a superbly-worked goal. The Swiss had led the group A quick exchange of passes since beating Portugal 2-0 in in Lisbon, while Portugal had the defeat by Switzerland Switzerland will now enter the playoffs will be held next freed Silva on the right and Basel in their opening match in won their subsequent eight. was the only competitive a playoff over two legs with Tuesday. his low cross was turned in September last year and gone Aside from a penalty game Portugal have lost since another European group Ronaldo should have scored by Andre Silva at the second on to win all nine matches shootout defeat by Chile at the Fernando Santos took over as runner-up in November for a his 16th goal of the qualifying attempt to send the Estadio before Tuesday’s encounter Confederations Cup in June, coach in September 2014. place in Russia. The draw for campaign when he was sent da Luz into raptures. (Reuters) U-17 World Gouiri brace hands England through to the last 16 Cup 2017 France win over Japan Guwahati, India rsenal target Amine Gouiri struck a brace Aas France notched up a 2-1 victory over Japan to secure a pre-quarterfinal berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Wednesday. Gouiri scored in the 13th and 71st to lift the former champions into the knockouts, while Japan found a consolation goal through Taisei Miyashiro Amine Gouiri of France celebrates scoring a goal (Picture courtesy: FIFA) in the 73rd minute at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium. threat. took a big deflection off the Japan, though, still are in The Olympique Lyonnais France wall and flew just wide. contention from Group E youngster opened the scoring At the other end, Caqueret having hammered Honduras on the 13th minute, as he sent was unlucky not to see a long- (L-R) England’s Jadon Sancho, Rhian Brewster and Philip Foden celebrate after scoring a goal 6-1 in their tournament opener. a shot through the legs of Japan range strike hit the target ngland are through to the Kolkata. Despite a late rally with victories at the Under- The first goal came when goalkeeper Kosei Tani. before the break. last 16 of the Under-17 from Mexico, Steve Cooper’s 20 World Cup, the Toulon Gouiri unleashed a right-footer Despite falling behind, Japan The prolific Gouiri would WorldE Cup in India after a 3-2 side held on for the win. Tournament and European off from the left side of the box made their way back into score again just past the win against Mexico. England, who beat Chile Under-19 Championship. off a Maxence Caqueret assist. the contest and had created midway point of the second Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster, 4-0 on Sunday, have six points They also reached the final It was Les Bleuets that chances. half, as he finished off a Manchester City’s Phil Foden from two games and play Iraq of the European Under-17 caused the Japanese problems The best of those superb bit of inter-play with and Borussia Dortmund’s on Saturday in their final group tournament and the European in the early stages of the game, opportunities was a free-kick Yacine Adli in the Japanese Jadon Sancho had put England match. England youngsters Under-21 Championship semi- with Gouiri being the biggest from Keito Nakamura, which box. (PTI) 3-0 up after 55 minutes in have enjoyed a successful year finals. (BBC)