China has advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time in its history, following a dramatic 4-3 victory over France in a penalty shootout. The match, held in Rabat, ended in a goalless draw after regular time, leading to the decisive shootout where China’s goalkeeper, Niu Ziqi, played a pivotal role by saving two penalties.
Throughout the match, both teams had multiple scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize. France dominated the first half, maintaining pressure but unable to find the back of the net. In the second half, China improved its performance after strategic adjustments by coach Ma Xiaoxu, though neither team could break the deadlock.
The penalty shootout saw Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke successfully converting China’s first two attempts, while Niu Ziqi saved a critical shot from France’s Lea Motyka. As the shootout continued, both teams remained level until Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi scored for China, with Niu making another crucial save against Lisa Mabilon to secure the victory.
China reached the knockout stage in strong form, finishing at the top of Group E with three straight wins, defeating Kenya 3-0, Samoa 7-0, and the United States 3-2. This impressive performance set the stage for their historic quarterfinal berth.
Looking ahead, China is set to face Brazil on November 1 in the quarterfinals. Brazil earned its spot in the last eight after a tense penalty shootout win against Poland, following a 3-3 draw. The upcoming match promises to be a competitive encounter as China aims to continue its groundbreaking run in the tournament.