Spain deny Mali another World Cup final

Spain denied a battling Mali a second successive FIFA U-17 World Cup final appearance, winning 3-1 at the DY Patil Stadium.

The Europeans scored twice in the first half, credited to striker Abel Ruiz, and added one more through Ferran Torres to take a commanding 3-0 lead before Mali’s Lassana N’Diaye scored their only goal in the 74th minute.

Mali also had a goal that appeared legitimate denied as it was not signalled ‘in’ by the assistant referee. They were trailing 2-0 at the time.

Spain had a dominant first half as they took a two-goal lead. The first was a penalty that Cesar Gelabert earned with a fine run that beat the offside trap and then was tripped inside the box. He also set up the second to find Ruiz on the right side of the box in the 43rd minute.