GOA, India – Substitute Noah Awuku scored late in the second half to earn Germany a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup opener for each on Saturday at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
In the 89th minute, the Ticos’ difficulty in clearing a right-sided cross allowed the 17-year-old capitalize with his right foot from eight-yards out.
The Germans went ahead 1-0 in the 21st minute, when a defense splitting pass by Nicolas Kuehn into the left side of the box was expertly chipped over charging goalkeeper Ricardo Montenegro by Jann-Fiete Arp.
Andres Gomez leveled for Costa Rica in the 64th minute, beating goalkeeper Luca Plogmann from 15-yards with his right foot off Josue Abraca’s feed.
Next Up: Costa Rica will face Guinea on Tuesday at the same venue.
2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup
October 7, 2017: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -- Goa, India (Att: 12,329)
Germany-Costa Rica 2-1 (1-0)
Jann-Fiete Arp 21’; Noah Awuku 89’ / Andres Gomez 64’
Germany: Luca Plogmann; Alexander Nitzl, Pascal Hackethal (Dominik Becker 62’), Jan Boller, Lars Mai, Elias Abouchabaka (Sahverdi Cetin 71’), John Yeboah, Yannik Keitel, Nicolas Kuehn, Jann-Fiete Arp, Dennis Jastrzembski (Noah Awuku 61’). Head Coach: Christian Wueck
Costa Rica: Ricardo Montenegro; Sebastian Castro, Karin Arce, Fernan Faerron, Walter Corts, Amferny Arias, Greivin Fonseca (Alexander Roman 46’), Ronnier Bustamante (Julen Cordero 74’), Josue Abarca, Jose Rodolfo Alfaro (Yecxy Jarquín 70’), Andres Gomez. Head Coach: Breansse Camacho
R: Mehdi Abid Charef (Alegeria); AR1: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria); AR2: Anouar Hmila (Tunisia); 4th: Gladys Lengwe (Zambia)
