FIFA U-17 World Cup, Mali vs Spain, full football score, highlights: MLI 1-3 ESP

Spain beat Mali 3-1 in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Spain took a deserved early lead through an Abel Ruiz penalty having dominated the game till that point. The European champions continued to impose their will on the African champions and then Ruiz then scored again before half time to consolidate Spain’s lead. Mali came out reinvigorated in the second half and were playing well but Ferran Torres scored Spain’s third goal to all but end the game. Lassana N’Diaye then pulled one back for Mali almost immediately but Spain held on for the win. Spain will now take on England in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Kolkata, which will be a rematch of the U-17 European Championships. Get full football score of Mali vs Spain, FIFA U-17 World Cup semi-final, here.

10:00 PM IST: That’s it from our side, thank you so much for joining us!

9:52 PM IST: Full-time: Mali 1-3 Spain. Mali showed some spark towards the end but Spain dominated most of the contest and ran out deserved winners here. They will now travel to Kolkata to take on England in the final - a rematch of the Euro U-17 Championships, which Spain won. Will history repeat itself? Find out this Saturday!

9:47 PM IST: Into 5 minutes of added time now.

9:44 PM IST: Mali, in their bid to get another goal, have become more physical - and more reckless. Need to keep calm. Haidara, Camara and Kane are shown three yellows in the space of five minutes.

9:40 PM IST: Mali are - finally - dominating possession but they need to make and convert more chances. Those missed opportunities might just come back to haunt them after all.

9:34 PM IST: Worth noting that Mali look lively now, whilst Spain look tired. The game isn’t yet over.

9:30 PM IST: GOAL! Mali have one back, and it’s courtesy of Lassana N’Diaye. Can they score two more now?

9:28 PM IST: GOAL! Ferran Torres scores Spain’s third with a beautiful header, and surely this is game over.

9:26 PM IST: Mali need to do more to force the issue here. Spain are simply coasting into the final at this point.

9:21 PM IST: Some amazing scenes here. The whole Mali bench break out in protest and the referee is forced to bring out the yellow card for a members of Mali’s support staff!

9:17 PM IST: So nearly! Abel Ruiz finds himself in a wonderful position but his curled effort goes just over the bar.

9:15 PM IST: Tempo of the game has slowed down considerably.

9:10 PM IST: The stadium is almost at full capacity now as the fans indulge in a Mexican wave.

9:07 PM IST: Abel Ruiz is once again through on goal from an aerial ball through the middle but his feeble effort is picked up by Koita.

9:06 PM IST: It’s worth noting that Mali have scored a lot of goals in the second half during the course of this tournament. They will need to continue that run of form to have any chance of staying alive.

9:04 PM IST: Mali are attacking with a renewed vigour in the second half. They need more of this.

9:02 PM IST: And the second half is now underway!

8:47 PM IST: Half-time: Mali 0-2 Spain. Abel Ruiz the difference maker for Spain yet again. Mali, though, have some introspection - and tactical tweaking - to do. Will they have better luck in the second half? Join us in 15 to find out.

8:42 PM IST: GOAL! Abel Ruiz cooly finishes off a wonderful Spain counter-attack and the European champions lead 2-0.

8:41 PM IST: And another chance goes begging, courtesy of Doucoure again. He gets on the end of a corner kick but his header is off target.

8:40 PM IST: Mali get their first shot in target in the 36th minute as Doucoure unleashes a curling effort forcing Alvaro into making his first save on the night.

8:37 PM IST: The action has slowed down a bit, but that works for Spain. Mali will need to up the tempo.

8:31 PM IST: SPAIN COME CLOSE AGAIN! Abel Ruiz gets on the end of a flat ball across the penalty box from Victor Chust but his shot goes agonisingly wide of the goal.

8:28 PM IST: The crowd trying urge Mali back into the game with loud ‘Mali’ chants ringing all over the ground.

8:25 PM IST: Spain seem content to just knock the ball around and rightfully so. Impetus is on Mali to force a change of strategy.

8:22 PM IST: Mali will now be forced to step their game up. They failed to convert their early chances but can’t afford any more slip-ups at this point.

8:18 PM IST: GOAL! Abel Ruiz converts the spot kick and Spain have the early lead. Gelabert was brought down in the box by Diaby and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. No complaints needed, because that was a stonewall penalty.

8:17 PM IST: PENALTY TO SPAIN!

8:14 PM IST: Make that three good chances Mali have failed to take! A close range effort is shot just high.

8:08 PM IST: Spain have had more possession but Mali have now created two good chances, with N’Diaye closing in on Spanish defender Guillamon and getting a shot just wide. They need to be more productive in front of goal.

8:05 PM IST: Mali making a good chance now, and Drame wins a corner for the African side.

8:04 PM IST: Spain winning the early possession battle. Mali will need to be patient for the time being.

8:02 PM IST: Spain making early inroads into Mali’s defence courtesy of star man Abel Ruiz and they win a corner. Unfortunately for them, the corner comes to nothing.

8:01 PM IST: Mali have fielded a 4-3-3 formation while Spain have opted to play in what appears to be an attacking 4-4-2.

8:00 PM IST: The crowd gives one loud cheer and we are now underway at Mumbai!

7:57 PM IST: The teams are on the pitch with Mali eyeing their second consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup final.

7:45 PM IST: The Spanish players applauding the crowd on their warm up laps. The stands are starting to filled up fast too.

7:40 PM IST: Hello and welcome to live coverage of Mali vs Spain.

Spain’s run in the tournament has been a dominant one so far, and bar a 2-1 loss to Brazil, they have won all their games in the tournament.

Mali have been undefeated in the tournament thus far, and even beat African rivals Ghana in their previous match – just like they did in the finals of the African U-17 Cup of Nations.

Both teams like to keep possession in order to create the most chances, making their semi-final clash an interesting collision because of the similarity of styles employed by both the teams.