FIFA U-17 WC: Classy Germans blank Colombia to advance to quarters

Led by a brace from captain Jann-Fiete Arp, Germany blanked Colombia 4-0 to advance to the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Jann-Fiete Arp was the pick of German players as he scored a brace in his side's 4-0 drubbing of Colombia in the pre-quarters on Monday.

Germany blanked Colombia 4-0 to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here. The goals came in a flurry, two in each half, as Germany displayed power and flourish to outclass Colombia in a disappointing contest.

A turnout of 34, 895 witnessed a clinical show by Germany, playing its first match at this venue. Two goals by Jann-Fiete Arp and a strike each by John Yeboah and Yann Bisseck confirmed Germany as the team to watch in the remaining stage of the tournament.

MATCH CENTRE

The Germans had done their home work. Tight marking left the Colombian forwards frustrated and Germany relied on swift counter-attacks to make their point. The two goals in the first half confirmed the German tactics being in place.

Yeboah won the ball just outside the box, laid it in the path of Jann-Fiete Arp, who was foiled but the ball slipped out of the diving goalkeeper Kevin Mier’s grasp. Arp, seeing the ball lie loose, came up with a deft left-footer which sailed into the far corner in the seventh minute.

Yeboah should have knocked in the second one but his curling left-footer thudded into the crosspiece as Colombia had a providential escape. The Germans gave the opponents a torrid time and the Colombian defence ran out of breath when stretched on the flanks.

The German pressure on Colombia increased mainly through the versatile Yeboah, who showed splendid control on the right flank. His speedy forays were complemented by Arp and the pair was relentless in its pursuit of a second goal.

It fructified in the 39 minute through a corner when Sahveri Cetin floated the ball into the goalmouth and the tall Bisseck rose to meet it with a form header that crashed into the back of the net.

The second half gave Colombia little respite. Yeboah was on the target four minutes into the second session after Arp ran a splendid solo and released the ball for his onrushing partner to score. And then Arp scored his second in the 65minute, breaking in solo, as Germany made the next stage in style.

The results:

Germany 4 (Jann-Fiete Arp 7, 65, Yann Bisseck 39 John Yeboah 49th) Colombia 0