Argentina eliminated Mexico in a demonstration of solidity by defeating them 0-2 in the quarterfinal match of the U-20 World Cup in Chile, at the National Stadium in Santiago, and that decreed their advancement to the semifinals where they will face Colombia. The Albiceleste, the most winning team in this competition, longs for its seventh crown after 18 years without achieving it, and took another step to play the South American duel against the Colombians, next Wednesday the 15th in Santiago.
With two goals at the beginning of both halves, Argentina took control of the score that Maher Carrizo opened in the 9th minute, and that Mateo Silvetti rounded off in the 56th, on a dull night for Bayer Leverkusen scorer Alejo Sarco. Vélez Sarsfield midfielder Maher Carrizo, who sparked the goal in the round of 16 against Nigeria with a double and had been a pillar of the Argentine offensive since the first phase, led the way by opening the scoring. The incisive Argentine ‘7’ on the right wing took advantage of a rebound given by goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa, after a previous shot by Valentino Acuña, and defined with power entering the area.
Diego Ochoa, one of the two expelled from Mexico
Argentina stepped hard from the beginning, wanting to define their advance early, but Ochoa stood out by rejecting a strong shot from Boca Juniors center back Dylan Gorosito, which could have been the second goal and the sentence for El Tri. The offensive force of the rival did not discourage Gilberto Mora, the 16-year-old Mexican figure, who took a shot to seek the tie, put balls into the area and starred in a foul in the area. Mexican coach Eduardo Arce asked for a review of what he considered a penalty on Mora, in the 22nd minute, but Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed did not grant it.
The match experienced tense moments
The high-intensity match produced two changes per side in the first half due to physical problems of the center back Valente Pierani and the Mexican midfielder Alexei Domínguez, who was replaced by Guadalajara attacker Hugo Camberos, scorer of two goals against Chile in the round of 16. El Tri came out to press in the second half, but Argentina made it 2-0 in a key moment with Mateo Silvetti, at 56, to give them peace of mind on the scoreboard.
TECHNICAL SHEET
0 - Mexico: Emmanuel Ochoa Rodrigo Pachuca (m.45, César Bustos), Diego Ochoa, Everardo López (m.71, Amaury Morales); Elías Montiel, Iker Fimbres (m.64, Diego Sánchez), Obed Vargas (m.71, Yael Padilla); Alexei Domínguez (m.10, Hugo Camberos), César Garza; Gilberto Mora, Tahiel Jiménez.
2 – Argentina: Santino Barbi; Dylan Gorosito, Valente Pierani (m.28, Juan Villalba) Tobías Ramírez, Julio Soler; Valentino Acuña (m.45, Tobías Andrada), Milton Delgado; Tomás Pérez, Maher Carrizo (m.64, Ian Subiabre), Gianluca Prestianni (m.81, Santino Andino); Alejo Sarco (m.45, Mateo Silvetti).
Goals: 0-1, Maher Carrizo (m. 9); 0-2, Mateo Silvetti (m. 56)
Referee: The Moroccan Jalal Jayed sent off Diego Ochoa for a double yellow card and Tahiel Jiménez with a straight red card, and admonished Acuña, Delgado, Carrizo, Subiabre, Prestianni, Silvetti, Pachuca, Camberos, Padilla and Garza.
Incidents: Quarterfinal match of the U-20 World Cup Chile 2025, played at the National Stadium in Santiago, before 25,200 spectators.
The attacker ran for a deep ball that defender Juan Villalba scored, beating the Mexican defenders who were closest to the ball in the race and finishing the left post. Arce, in the 66th minute, asked for a penalty for a foul on his striker Tahiel Jiménez, but the Moroccan judge ruled it out.
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Although Mexico did not give up seeking the rival goal and had serious chances at the end, it stumbled against an Argentina that fiercely defended the result with fouls that heated things up. The duel ended with the Mexicans Diego Ochoa and Tahiel Jiménez expelled due to coach Placente’s request for a card review and three other yellow cards for Tri footballers.
