Fifa U-17 World Cup: Five-star France ease into last 16

Guwahati: European powerhouse France came from behind to drub Honduras 5-1 here on Saturday and qualify for the knockout stage of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup as Group E toppers.

France had already booked a Round of 16 berth before the game and enter the knockouts with an all-win record (nine points).

They face Group D runners-up and European qualifying tournament winners Spain in their first knockout match in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Despite the loss, Honduras also went through to the second round as one of the four best third-placed teams. They finished third in the group with three points.

Japan finished second in the group with four points after being held by minnows New Caledonia in another match in Kolkata. New Caledonia finished last in the group with one point and were eliminated.

France dominated the exchanges with 66 per cent possession and had 10 shots on goal compared to just three by Honduras.

Honduras took the surprise lead in the 10th minute through Carlos Mejia but France rallied and then outplayed Central Americans with five goals, three of them coming in the second half.

Alexis Flips struck twice in the 23rd and 64th minutes while Wilson Isidor (14th), Amine Gouiri (86th) and Yacine Adli (90+6) were the other French scorers. With his fifth goal in three matches, Gouiri maintained his place as the top scorer of the tournament so far.

France had a look at the Honduras goal as early as the third minute but Isidor’s right footed shot from the left side of the box was saved by goalie Alex Rivera.

It was Honduras who took the lead in the 10th minute as Mejia’s left-footed shot from a difficult angle found the back of the France net.

France equalised in a matter of four minutes when Isidor shot home from the centre of the box after Alan Kerouedan sent him on the clear with a fine through ball.

Flips gave France the lead in the 23rd minute as he beat Rivera with a shot from the centre of the box.

Shortly after, Flips failed to beat Rivera but in the 64th minute, he was not to be denied as a right-footed shot from a very close range hit the top right corner of the net.

France scored twice towards the end of the match with star striker Gouiri adding his name in the scoresheet six minutes from regulation time for his fifth goal in three matches. Six minutes were added as injury time and from the last kick of the match Adli scored with brilliant free-kick from just outside the center edge of the box.