England held their nerves to prevail over Japan 5-3 in a penalty shootout and set up a quarterfinal clash with USA in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, here on Tuesday.
They may have had a jinx in the penalty shootout with the latest being their Euro U-17 Final defeat to Spain earlier this year, but the Steve Cooper team remained calm in front of a 53,302 turnout as substitute Nya Kirby sealed the issue after their goalkeeper Curtis Anderson denied Hinata Kida.
This is their third quarterfinal and first since 2011.
England sorely missed their leading goal scorer Jadon Sancho, and the Young lions, who had pumped in 11 goals in the group stage, failed to find the target to settle for a goal- less stalemate against an overly defensive Japan.
England showed character in the penalty shootout with a 100 per cent conversion, beginning with Rhian Brewster, who slotted it home with Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani making a wrong dive.
They followed it up with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Philip Foden and even goalkeeper Anderson finding the target.
Japan's Yukihari Sugawara, Taisei Miyashiro and Toichi Kozuki scored but Kida's attempt was thwarted in a crucial breakthrough for England, who failed to find the target despite a flurry of attacks in the regulation time.
England sorely missed their star attacking midfielder Sancho and the team struggled to get their formation right with Callum Hudson-Odoi or Philip Foden pressed into his position, but without any fruitful result.
England will travel to USA for their round of eight clash in Goa on Sunday.
Japan were so defensive that their first corner came in the 63rd minute.
The match slowly picked up pace after both the teams looked tentative with their moves in the first 10 minutes.
Mali thrash Iraq 5-1
Margao: Mali sailed into the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in style as they outplayed Iraq in all departments for a resounding 5-1 victory in a round-of-16 clash here on Tuesday. Mali dominated the match and scored through Hadji Drame (25th minute), lassana N'diaye (33rd, 90+4)), Fode Konate (73rd) and substitute Seme Camara (87th).
Iraq showed urgency in the second half and reduced the margin in the 85th minute through Ali Kareem.
Mali will play against the winners of Wednesday's match between Ghana and Niger.