from behind to beat tournament favorites Germany 4-3 on penalties and
advance to the semifinals.
Both sides scored its first three penalties, before Mali's Adama
Traore had his penalty saved and Julian Brandt, who had scored
Germany's regulation goal, blasted his shot over.
Mali then made it 4-3 and with Niklas Stark needing to score to keep
Germany in the shootout, he hooked his shot wide to send Mali, which
was beaten semifinalists in 1999, through to meet either the United
States or Serbia on Wednesday.
"We don't lose the match because of the opponent, we lose it because
of penalties," Germany coach Frank Wormuth said. "At the end, it's
luck to win."
Earlier, the 1981 champion Germans weren't as dominant as many
predicted and didn't have a shot on target until the 30th minute.
Germany's opening goal in the 38th minute was superb. A Hany Mukhtar
free kick deflected skyward off the defensive wall. The Germans
brought the ball down coolly and Brandt hit a volley from outside of
the penalty area, through traffic, into the corner of the Mali goal.
Germany squandered the chance to double its advantage when Hany
Mukhtak's second-half penalty was saved by Mali keeper and captain
Djigui Diarra.
Mali quickly capitalized on the reprieve as defender Souleymane
Coulibaly dived to meet an inswinging corner and his glancing shot
beat German goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe and slid into the side netting
of the goal in the 58th.
Mukhtar should have scored again in the 69th minute when Brandt
delivered a lofted ball finding the striker in prime position with
only Diarra to beat, but missed.
Neither side could find the breakthrough in extra-time as the match
headed to penalties.
Mali coach Faneri Diarra dedicated the win to the supporting public in
Mali, adding his side never doubted they had a giant-killing
performance in them.
"With young kids in this tournament, there are always surprises," he
said. "Our confidence has been rising throughout the event and our
results have risen too."
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