In the U17 World Cup held in Qatar, Egypt drew 1-1 with Venezuela, maintaining their lead in Group 5. England’s impressive 8-1 victory over Haiti intensified the competition for qualification ahead of the decisive third round. Egypt’s performance showcased resilience despite a red card and a challenging match against a strong Venezuelan side.
The second round of Group 5 in the U17 World Cup, held in Qatar, concluded with Egypt drawing 1-1 against Venezuela and England achieving a resounding 8-1 victory over Haiti, intensifying the race for qualification ahead of the crucial third round.
Egypt’s U17 team delivered a strong performance against Venezuela, despite a challenging start that saw them fall behind with a goal from Marcos Metan in the 18th minute. In the second half, Hamza Abdel Karim equalized with a beautiful header following an accurate cross from Mohannad El-Shami in the 54th minute.
Egypt faced a significant setback when player Mohamed Hamad was sent off in the 60th minute, leaving the team to finish the match with ten players. Despite being a man down, Egypt came close to snatching a win in the 87th minute when Iyad El-Nagawi’s shot narrowly missed the post.
In stoppage time, VAR intervened after Venezuela appealed for a penalty, but the referee decided to allow play to continue without awarding a foul.
The Egyptian team began the match cautiously under pressure from Venezuela, with goalkeeper Omar Abdel Aziz excelling in saving several dangerous chances. As the match progressed, Egypt’s attacking performance improved, led by Bilal Atiya and Mohamed Hamad before his dismissal, but the Venezuelan goalkeeper managed to maintain his team’s lead until the end of the first half.
The three teams at the top (Egypt, Venezuela, and England) remain in contention, while Haiti has been eliminated from qualification. The upcoming third round is expected to be intense, as the fates of qualification depend on the results of the final matches, especially given the close points and goal difference.
The U17 World Cup is a prestigious tournament that showcases young football talent from around the globe. Established in 1985, it has become a platform for future stars to shine and gain international experience.
The tournament is held every two years, with teams competing for the title and the opportunity to develop their players on a global stage. In recent years, the competition has seen a rise in the quality of play, with teams like Egypt and Venezuela demonstrating their potential in this year’s edition.
