SANTIAGO — Argentina were the favorites in this year’s Under-20 World Cup. Morocco were not far behind, fighting their way through the semifinals into the final. The African side then dominated the title decider as well.
Reaching the final after 18 years, the heirs of Lionel Messi could not lift the trophy. Morocco won 2-0 to claim the Under-20 football World Cup.
Argentina lost in Santiago, Chile, to a brace from Yassir Zabiri. It is Morocco’s first title at any age-group World Cup. Morocco is the second African country to win the title. Ghana, in 2009, was the first.
Morocco took the lead against Argentina in the 12th minute. Argentina goalkeeper Santino Barbi rushed off his line and fouled Zabiri to deny a goal. The referee, after reviewing, gave Argentina’s goalkeeper a yellow card and awarded Morocco a free kick. Zabiri converted that 12th-minute free kick to put his side ahead.
Morocco went further ahead in the 29th minute of the first half. From the right edge of the box in the 29th minute, Zabiri volleyed home a ball lifted by Mamma.
With his two goals in the final, Zabiri ended the tournament with five, joint top. But the Golden Boot eluded him. Colombia’s Neiser Villarreal, France’s Lucas Michal and the United States’ Benjamin Cremaschi also each scored five goals. Cremaschi, a teammate of Messi at Inter Miami, took the award by virtue of his two assists. Morocco’s Othmane Mamma won the Golden Ball.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report