Lyon boy Amine Gouiri shines again as France march into last 16

The dazzling forward scored a brace as Les Bleus edged Japan in Guwahati.

Two goals by Amine Gouiri gave France a 2-1 victory over Japan in Group E at the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 on Wednesday.

It was Les Bleuets that caused the Japanese problems in the early stages at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, with Gouiri posing a particular threat. The Olympique Lyonnais youngster opened the scoring on 13 minutes, as he powered a shot through the legs of Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani.

Watch France 2-1 Japan Highlights

Despite falling behind, Japan grew into the contest and had chances themselves. The best of those opportunities was a free-kick from Keito Nakamura, which took a big deflection off the France wall and flew just wide. At the other end, Maxence Caqueret was unlucky not to see a long-range strike hit the target before the break.

The prolific Gouiri would score again just past the midway point of the second half, as he finished off a superb bit of inter-play with Yacine Adli in the Japanese box. Yet, the second France goal prompted a reply for Japan, who halved the deficit through a Taisei Miyashiro penalty. Nonetheless, the French held on for a second straight win in the competition.

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Elsewhere, Carlos Mejia and Patrick Palacios each scored twice to lead Honduras to an emphatic 5-0 victory over New Caledonia in Group E at the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 on Wednesday evening.

There was little to choose in the opening exchanges at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium but, just past the midway point of the first half, the Central Americans claimed control of the contest with two goals in as many minutes.

Watch Honduras 5-0 New Caledonia Highlights

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Mejia scored the first of his two goals on 25 minutes before the supplier of Honduras’ opener found the scoresheet himself, as Joshua Canales struck home a sublime free-kick two minutes later. Mejia then got his second goal just before the break, as he converted a Santiago Cabrera cross to put Los Catrachos three goals up at half-time.

The CONCACAF side extended their advantage six minutes after the break through a well-taken Palacios header before he got his second of the match in the late stages to secure Honduras’ biggest win at a U-17 World Cup.