China’s U17 Women’s soccer team made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, following a tense 4-3 penalty shootout victory over France. The match, held in Rabat, ended goalless after regular time, with China’s goalkeeper Niu Ziqi playing a pivotal role by saving two crucial penalties.
Despite several scoring opportunities, both teams struggled to break the deadlock during the match. France controlled much of the first half but failed to capitalize on their chances. After halftime, China improved significantly, thanks to tactical adjustments made by their coach, Ma Xiaoxu. However, neither side was able to score, leading to the decisive penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke successfully converted their penalties for China, while Niu Ziqi’s save against Lea Motyka gave her team an early advantage. With the score tied at 2-2, Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi stepped up to convert China’s remaining penalties. Niu Ziqi then delivered another crucial save, this time against Lisa Mabilon, sealing the 4-3 victory for China.
China’s journey to the knockout stage was marked by an impressive performance, topping Group E with three consecutive wins. They defeated Kenya 3-0, Samoa 7-0, and the United States 3-2 to secure their place in the last 16.
Looking ahead, China is set to face Brazil in the quarterfinals on November 1. Brazil advanced after a dramatic 8-7 penalty shootout win over Poland, following a thrilling 3-3 draw.