Foti sparks Italian elation

Italy needed a last-gasp goal to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Championship - and they won their opening match in Peru in even more dramatic style, defeating Ivory Coast 4-3 thanks to a late winner from Salvatore Foti. The Netherlands, meanwhile, also won an high-scoring encounter with Qatar.

Leads cancelled out
Having overcome Croatia 2-1 in extra time to clinch third place in May's UEFA European Under-17 Championship, Francesco Rocca's side began their Group C campaign in Chiclayo against the Ivorians. Christian Tiboni - one of six additions to the European Championship squad - twice gave the Azzurrini the lead, on 21 and 32 minutes, but Alassane Diomande cancelled out the first in the 27th minute, and Ismael Fofana made it 2-2 early in the second half.

Foti winner
Matteo Mandorlini put Italy back in front with four minutes left, only for Koffi Kouassi to equalise immediately. However, Italy showed the same spirit they displayed on home soil in the European Championship, and Salvatore Foti then struck to give them a decisive lead.

Mixed feelings
Rocca said: "Today at times we were good and at other times less good. Our three-man defence looked vulnerable at the start. But I think it was a very good game of football." The coach said Andrea Russotto had been "out of sorts" after he at first left the talented attacker on the bench, then brought him on only to substitute him. In the same group, the United States overcame the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 3-2, with the North Americans the next opposition for Italy on Tuesday.

Dutch win
The Netherlands began their Group D campaign in Piura with a 5-3 win against Qatar, as like Italy they saw more than one lead cancelled out. Marvin Emnes put Ruud Kaiser's team into a sixth-minute lead, but Qatar were awarded a penalty five minutes later and Ali Yahya converted. Jordy Buijs restored the Dutch advantage from the spot, only for Yusef Ali to equalise within seconds.

Emnes clincher
However, in the second half the Netherlands began to stamp their authority on the game. Just before the hour Mike van der Kooij put the European U17 Championship runners-up back ahead, and in the 65th minute John Goossens shot through a crowded Qatari defence. Ten minutes later Tim Krul saved a second Yahya penalty, and although with seven minutes left Khalfan Al Khalfan seemed to have given Qatar hope, almost instantly Emnes turned in Jeffrey Sarpong's low cross to secure victory. The next opponents for the Dutch on Tuesday are holders Brazil, who were suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by African champions Gambia in the other Group D fixture.

Turkey chance
On Friday, European champions Turkey gained a 1-0 Group B victory against Australia, and they play Uruguay in Lima on Monday knowing a win would take them through to the quarter-finals if Australia do not defeat the Mexicans in the early game. In Group A, Ghana play Costa Rica and hosts Peru meet China with all four sides currently dead level.