Benin's Cheetahs scrape into U18 World School quarter-finals
Through against Taipei on penalties, Benin were then knocked out by Croatia. A look back at those two U18 World School Championship ties.
Rieltony LOUBOKO · Author profile ·
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Benin booked their place in the quarter-finals of the U18 World School Championship on Thursday 22 October in Suzhou, China. Against Taipei, the Cheetahs had to go to a penalty shootout to go through, after a 2-2 draw. It was a qualification that went down to the wire, before elimination by Croatia the following day.
The young Beninese had in fact taken the lead before the break. Ahead 2-1 at half-time, Séverin Danha's side failed to hold on to their advantage: Taipei levelled in the second half, forcing the two teams to settle it on penalties.
Cool heads after the big wins
This time the shootout went the Cheetahs' way. After seeing their lead vanish, they found the resilience needed to clear this first knockout hurdle.
This first knockout tie offered a very different script from Benin's opening two matches. In the group stage, Benin had comfortably beaten Qatar (7-0), then the Indian side ISSO India II (27-0), before sharing the points with China II (2-2).
With seven points and 36 goals scored for two conceded, the Cheetahs had finished top of Group B, ahead of China II on goal difference. Against Taipei, their attacking power was not enough to spare them a tense finish. They nonetheless secured what mattered: a place among the eight teams still in the running for the title.
Update, 23 October: Croatia halt Benin
The quarter-final against Croatia was played on Friday 23 October. As the day before, the two teams finished regulation time level (2-2). This time, the penalty shootout went the Croats' way, as they won it 4-3.
Benin will therefore not reach the last four. The same exercise that had opened the door to the quarter-finals against Taipei ended, in the next round, their hopes of a world school title.