China has achieved a historic milestone by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France. The match, held in Rabat, ended in a 4-3 shootout win for China after a tense goalless draw during regular play.
The standout performer for China was goalkeeper Niu Ziqi, whose crucial saves were pivotal in securing the team’s advancement. Niu saved two penalties during the shootout, including a decisive stop against France’s Lisa Mabilon, ensuring China’s progression to the last eight.
Throughout the match, both teams had opportunities to score but were unable to capitalize. France dominated the first half with several attacking moves but failed to convert these into goals. In the second half, China improved significantly following strategic changes made by coach Ma Xiaoxu, yet neither team managed to break the deadlock.
During the penalty shootout, Liu Yuxi and Liu Yuke successfully converted their initial attempts for China, while Niu’s save against Lea Motyka kept the teams level at 2-2. China then pulled ahead with successful penalties from Yang Lan and Cheng Wandi, culminating in a 4-3 victory.
China’s journey to the knockout stage has been marked by impressive performances, finishing at the top of Group E with three wins. They secured victories against Kenya (3-0), Samoa (7-0), and the United States (3-2), demonstrating their strong form heading into the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead, China is set to face Brazil on November 1 in the quarterfinals. Brazil advanced to this stage following their own dramatic penalty shootout victory over Poland, winning 8-7 after a 3-3 draw.
