FOOTBALL: Ukraine, Italy, Ecuador and Korea advance to men’s U-20 World Cup semis

Sebastian Soto of the U.S. fights for possession against Sergio Quintero (ECU) in the U-20 World Cup (Photo: USSF)

There will be a first-time champion in the FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup as the semifinals will pit Ukraine against Italy and Ecuador and South Korea on Tuesday in Poland.

None of these teams have ever won the U-20 World Cup; Ukraine and Ecuador have never gotten to the semis. Italy and Korea have gotten that far: Italy finished third in 2017 and the Koreans were fourth in 1983 (!).

In the quarterfinals:

● Ukraine got an 11th-minute goal from Danylo Sikan and made it stand up for a 1-0 win over Colombia in Lodz.

● In a much wilder game, Italy got an own goal from Mali in the 12th minute, but was tied 1-1 at half. Then the Azzuri got a 60th-minute goal from Andrea Pinamonti to go up, 2-1, only to have the game tied again in the 79th minute. But Pinamonti scored on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and Davide Frattesi scored a minute later for the 4-2 final in Tychy.

● Ecuador scored first against the United States in Gdynia on a goal from Jose Cifuentes, but Tim Weah scored to tie the game 1-1. But Jhon Espinoza’s score in the 43rd minute proved decisive in a 2-1. The game was close throughout and although the U.S. had the edge in possession (54-46%), Ecuador had more shots on goal, 15-13. It was the third straight U-20 World Cup in which the U.S. lost in the quarters.

The Americans finished second in their group at 2-1 (losing to Ukraine), but eliminated undefeated France, 3-2, in the Round of 16, coming from behind on second-half goals from Sebastian Soto (his second of the game) and Justin Rennicks, who got the game-winner in the 83rd minute.

● Korea had to go to penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie with Senegal in Bielsko-Biala. The game was tied at the end of stoppage time in the second half on a Ji-Sol Lee goal at 90+8! Then Young-Wook Cho scored six minutes into overtime for a 3-2 lead, but Amadou Ciss scored in stoppage time (120+1) for Senegal to force penalties. The Koreans missed their first two, but scored the last three and prevailed, 3-2 to advance to the semis.

Tuesday’s semis will be played in Gnynia for Ukraine and Italy, and in Lublin for Ecuador and Korea. The third-place match will be on Friday (14th) and the title game on Saturday (15th).

Full results are here.