The jubilant French team. Photo: FIFA.com

France Under-17 team has walloped New Zealand 6-1, in the Group F match played today in Estadio Chinquihue, Puerto Montt in  Chile.

It was bad news for  Africa, however, as the South Africa’s Amajimbos went down 1-2 to the Costa Ricans in one of the matches played in Group E in Estadio Municipal Ester Roa Concepcion.

Les Bleuets dominated their match, gaining 61 per cent possession, to their opponents 39 percent. Despite this advantage, they could not score until they were helped by New Zealand’s  left back James McGarry who slotted the ball in his own net when trying to clear a through ball put in by Bilal Boutobba.

Thereafter, the goals started pouring in. Boutobba doubled France’s lead near the half-hour mark with a quick cutback inside New Zealand’s area and a powerful shot past New Zealand’s No1. Two minutes later, Christ Maouassa beat Woud to the near post to make it 3-0.

Mamadou Doucoure scored an uncontested header off a corner kick from the left side and just before the break Les Bleuets made it 5-0 just  when Alec Georgen finished off a great pass from captain Thimote Cognat. With the three points all but secured after the first 45 minutes France sat back in the second-half and absorbed the occasional attack from the Young All Whites.

With  15 minutes remaining McGarry made amends for his earlier own goal by putting New Zealand on the scoresheet, tapping home from six yards after good build up by Rogerson.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Odsonne Edouard scored a sixth for France with a fine bit of individual skill.

Costa Rica’s Reyes, right

With the victory,  Les Bleuets are now  atop Group F. The other two teams in the group,  Paraguay and Syria will be  in action later on Monday evening.

Costa Rica completed a comfortable opening victory against South Africa , thanks to a fine performance by Andy Reyes. The No9 scored a penalty after he had set up Kevin Masis’s opener in a 2-0 win. Khanyisa Mayo’s late header was not enough for the African side, who rallied in the second half before Reyes’s sucker punch penalty.

South Africa will gather themselves for their next clash against Korea DPR on Thursday, while Costa Rica face Russia in the day’s other Group E clash.

*From reports by www.fifa.com