Argentina made light work of Nigeria in Santiago to swagger into the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.
They were joined by Colombia, who overcomed stubborn South African side in Talca. A pair of goals in each half saw Argentina surge into the last eight and sent Nigeria packing from the tournament.
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The game was barely a minute old when Alejo Sarco slid in to tap home a Dylan Gorosito cross with goalkeeper Ebenezar Harcourt in no man’s land. Diego Placente’s team then pressed home their advantage in spectacular style as Maher Carrizo fired a free-kick into the bottom-right corner.
Nigeria stemmed the flow and almost got a foothold at the end of the half, with Daniel Daga chesting down and volleying from close range, but Santino Barbi made a stunning left-handed save.
Argentina quickly set about making the game safe after the restart. Milton Delgado picked Daga’s pocket on halfway and played in Carrizo who calmly dispatched his second. Their fourth wasn’t far behind, with Mateo Silvetti sent scampering down the right, he squared up Daniel Bameyi and curled a pinpoint effort beyond him into the far corner.
The Young Albiceleste will now take on Mexico in the quarter-finals.
Colombia are quarter-final bound after topping South Africa in Talca. The South Americans grabbed an early lead when Oscar Perea served up a cross from the left wing that was met at the far post by hard-charging Joel Canchimbo, who volleyed home.
South Africa hung tough and a heavy touch from Jordan Garcia in the opening seconds of the second stanza offered a lifeline, as Siviwe Magidigidi was taken down by the scrambling Colombian goalkeeper. The initial spot kick was saved, but ordered to be retaken and at the second time of asking, Mfundo Vilakazi converted.
After hitting the post earlier, Neyser Villareal scored his first goal of the tournament in dazzling fashion by taking a Perea pass and launching a right-footed rocket to restore Colombia’s lead. He then tacked on his second of the day with a composed finish, cementing his side’s final eight place. Colombia will remain in Talca to take on Spain in the last eight.