Argentina played more than 80 minutes with ten players but still opened their FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ campaign with victory over Cuba. Brazil appeared to be joining them in the hard-fought win club against Mexico, until a late Diego Ochoa header saw the spoils shared. In the early matches, two quick-fire goals ensured Morocco downed Spain, while Italy, who were runners-up at Argentina 2023, also got off to the perfect start by edging by a valiant Australia side.
Group C
Morocco 2-0 Spain
Morocco goals: Yassir Zabiri (54), Gessime Yassine (58)
Morocco got off to a successful start on their U-20 World Cup return after a 20-year absence by securing a well-deserved victory over Spain in Santiago.
In a lively opening period, Yassir Zabiri squandered a glorious chance for Morocco after just six minutes when he blazed wide of the bar from seven yards out. Spain quickly rallied and Fouad Zahouani kept the Young Lions in the game shortly afterwards when he blocked a dangerous bouncing effort from Rayane Belaid off the line.
Zabiri found the target in the 54th minute when he broke clear of the Spain defence and coolly slotted the ball past Fran Gonzalez. Gessime Yassine then doubled Morocco’s lead four minutes later when he converted a cross from Othmane Maamma from close range. Spain were awarded a penalty 11 minutes from time but it was overturned after a VAR review.
Quotes
“It’s great to score for the people, for the nation, for my family, it’s extremely gratifying. [Against Brazil] We’re going to try to give it our all, we’re going to continue working hard in training, see how they are tactically and try to achieve the same joy we had today.”
Gessime Yassine, Morocco forward
“Winning 2-0 against Spain, not conceding any goals, creating chances, showing quality, demonstrating our ability to keep possession and defending well… We’re happy. But it’s only three points, we haven’t achieved anything yet. We’re going to enjoy it a little, calm down a little, because we want more. We didn’t just come here to beat Spain. We want more. Confidence is growing, but we’re going to try to stay humble, believe in ourselves, but remain humble. That’s how we’ll go far.”
Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco coach
Stat
This is Morocco’s first normal-time victory at the U-20 finals for some 7,404 days, when they defeated Japan 1-0 in the last 16 at Netherlands 2005.
Brazil 2-2 Mexico
Brazil goals: Coutinho (21), Luighi (76)
Mexico goals: Alexei Dominguez (10), Diego Ochoa (86)
A late Diego Ochoa header earned a stubborn Mexico side a point against Brazil.
The Mexicans hit the front just ten minutes in when Tahiel Jimenez’s header was saved into the path of Alexei Dominguez who made no mistake in slotting home. Brazil, who had a penalty review for handball waved away, grew into the game and levelled matters in the 21st minute, as Coutinho latched on to a poor clearance to welly in a sumptuous equaliser.
Brazil appeared to have won it when Coutinho’s Palmeiras team-mate Gilberto’s long throw found another Verdão star as Luighi hooked home in the 76th minute. Mexico wouldn’t give in, though, as towering centre-back Ochoa netted a stunning looping header to complete the scoring.
Stat
Alexei Dominguez is the first player with all five vowels in their name to score at these finals. His namesake Luciano, who netted the winning goal in the Argentina 2023 decider for Uruguay against Italy, had been the most recent.
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Group D
Italy 1-0 Australia
Italy goal: Mattia Mannini pen (10)
A Mattia Mannini penalty saw Italy scrape by a dogged Australia side in Valparaiso.
The Young Socceroos came close early on as Luka Jovanovic broke down the left and fired a shot on goal, but Alessandro Nunziante denied him with his feet. Italy hit back soon after as Mattia Mosconi was felled by goalkeeper Steven Hall as he tried to round him. Captain Mannini took the spot-kick and just about beat the Aussie shot-stopper in the 10th minute.
Jovanovic looked destined to level just after the break when the ball fell to him six yards out, only for Christian Corradi – who was excellent throughout – to heroically block the shot. Down the other end, Mattia Liberali ought to have made the game safe when he stole the ball inside Australia’s box, but his deflected effort hit the post.
Quotes
“We did well. It was important to win the first game of the group stage. We also knew how to suffer. This is a new team, but the fact that we won today gives us time to work calmly”.
Carmine Nunziata, Italy coach
“It’s the first game. For all players there’s that desire to get started in the tournament and you want to win. We made an error early in the game but I think there’s a lot of positives from the game for our team to build on. We played Argentina in June, so we know what to expect, and we’ll see how they’ll get through their game today.”
Trevor Morgan, Australia coach
Stat
Australia remain without an opening-day victory at these finals since Argentina 2001, when they defeated Japan 2-0. That match, incidentally, also marks their AFC counterpart’s most recent defeat in the curtain-raiser.
Cuba 1-3 Argentina
Argentina goals: Alejo Sarco (4, 41), Ian Subiabre (90)
Cuba goal: Karel Perez (45+4)
Ten-player Argentina survived a scare to take all three points against Cuba in Valparaiso.
The Young Albiceleste netted four minutes in, as Alejo Sarco bundled home a Maher Carrizo centre. The dynamic of the match would change drastically six minutes later, as Santiago Fernandez was sent off for a last-player foul on Alessio Raballo.
Cuba pushed but it was Argentina who struck next, with Sarco glancing home a brilliant header. Captain Karel Perez gave the North Americans hope on the stroke of half-time, as the ball ricocheted in off him from a corner.
The second half descended into a keep-ball exercise for Diego Placente’s side, who made the game safe as the clock struck 90 via a rasping Ian Subiabre drive which flew in off the left-hand post.
Quotes
“The goal was a blow at the end of the first half, we didn’t expect it because we were defending well with ten players. At half-time we were able to adjust, get things sorted out, and we didn’t suffer in the second half. We support each other, we listen to each other, we learn from each other. That communication is important, it helps us correct things.”
Santino Barbi, Argentina goalkeeper
Stat
A player named ‘Alejo’ has now opened the South American’s account for a second straight tournament. Alejo Veliz found the net in the 2-1 win over Uzbekistan in their Argentina 2023 curtain-raiser.
