France oust hosts after shoot-out

Lacazette heroics
The home crowd at the Mardan Sport Complex including Turkey senior squad member Arda Turan and coach Fatih Terim was delighted by Abdülkadir Kayalı's long-range strike just after the half-hour but Thimothée Kolodziecziak forced a stalemate over the 100 minutes. It was only broken when Anthony Mfa Mezui saved spot-kicks from Abdülkadir and Batuhan Karadeniz and substitute Alexandre Lacazette gave France hope of a second U17 title to add to their 2004 crown, when they beat Spain 2-1 in the final.

Early threat
Turkey restored their first-choice lineup after resting key men for the 0-0 Group A-clinching draw with Serbia on Saturday and there was a debut finals start for Eren Albayrak, the winger who only returned from a six-month groin injury absence with his three substitute appearances here. Within a minute his strong angled shot had forced France goalkeeper Anthony Mfa Mezui to save.

Turkey ahead
France were unchanged from the 2-0 win against Switzerland, and after a typically smooth passing interchange Gaël Kakuta drove on to the crossbar. The Chelsea FC winger's fine pass also found Yannis Tafer but the four-goal finals top scorer missed the target. It was at the other end after 31 minutes that a brilliant finish broke the deadlock. France's Thimothée Kolodziecziak was relieved to see his deflection from Eren Albayrak's cross rebound away off the crossbar but the ball was played to Abdülkadir outside the box and the captain's swerving shot gave Mfa Mezui no chance. Beşiktaş JK prodigy Batuhan Karadeniz, quiet up to now, then controlled a long pass but could not beat Mfa Mezui.

Equaliser
Lacazette, the last-gasp matchwinner against the Republic of Ireland, was introduced at half-time and within seconds was fouled and nearly connected with Kakuta's crossed free-kick. Eren Albayrak, so intregal to Turkey's wing play, was withdrawn on the hour, limping, and Gueida Fofana nearly levelled matters as Metin Uçar did well to palm over his curling free-kick. Turkey still threatened, but the lead disappeared with eleven minutes left in regulation time as Tafer piroutetted on the ball inside the box and squared for Kolodziecziak to lash high into the net. Batuhan came close to preventing extra time but his effort flew wide.

Penalties
Substitute Öztürk Karataş made Mfa Mezui save early in the additional 20 minutes, while France's William Remy – whose earlier booking meant he will be suspended for the final – shot over. With eight minutes left Kakuta strode through the Turkey defence but also missed, and Batuhan had another late chance, heading over. Penalties were needed, and after Abdülkadir and Tafer had each team's initial effort saved, Batuhan shot Turkey's fourth straight at Mfa Mezui and Lacazette was the hero again.