Sarpong sends Netherlands through

The Netherlands will take on Mexico in the FIFA U-17 World Championship semi-finals in Peru after two goals from Jeffrey Sarpong saw them defeat the United States 2-0 in Trujillo.

Marcellis missing
Ruud Kaiser's side were without the services of their captain and most capped player Dirk Marcellis due to injury, with goalkeeper Tim Krul taking the captain's armband in his absence. The US received a hevy blow when Kevin Alston was taken off on a stretcher with a broken lead 16 minutes in, and the Dutch took the lead in first-half stoppage time when AFC Ajax's Vurnon Anita played the ball to club team-mate Sarpong, who scored from close-range.

Double dismissal
The USwere reduced to ten men with 15 minutes remaining after Neven Subotic's dismissal for a second bookable offence, but the Netherlands' Jordi Buijs restored the balance three minutes later when he also received a second yellow card.

Super Sarpong
Sarpong decided the game in the Netherlands' favour with six minutes remaining, when he broke down the left before shooting past the goalkeeper from eight metres. "To be among the four finest teams in the world is something unique," said Kaiser. "We are very happy, but it is difficult to enjoy this when we have not played well and lost Buijs to a red card."

Mexico test
The Netherlands will meet Mexico on Thursday in Chiclayo to decide a place in the final, while the other semi-final will be contested on the same day in Trujillo between reigning European champions Turkey and World Championship holders Brazil, who ousted the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 3-1 in extra time on Monday.