Canada scored three goals in each half en route to a comfortable 6-0 victory over Zambia in the round of 16 on Wednesday, setting up a quarterfinal date against Brazil at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Sale, Morocco.
The winner of Canada-Brazil will face either defending champion North Korea or 2014 winner Japan in the semi-final. Brazil blanked China 3-0 in their round of 16 match.
Daniela Feria-Estrada scored twice and Melisa Kekic, Mya Angus, Chloe Taylor and Amy Medley added singles for Canada at the Mohammed VI Soccer Academy. Several of the goals were of spectacular quality, although Kekic missed a penalty in the second half.
Canada has outscored its rival 18-2 by winning four straight in the 24-team tournament.
Canada’s best performance in the U-17 championship was its fourth in 2018, when it was defeated by Mexico in the semifinals. He also reached the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014.
Canada advanced to the knockout round here by topping Group D with wins over Nigeria (4-1), Samoa (6-0) and France (2-1). Zambia became one of the four best third-placed teams, behind Japan and Paraguay in Group F.
In another round of 16 match on Wednesday, France defeated Spain, runners-up in 2024 and champions in 2018 and 2022, on penalties, Mexico beat Paraguay 1-0 and Japan blanked Colombia 4-0.
Zambia, whose team is based entirely in their country, bounced back from losses to Paraguay (2-1) and Japan (1-0) with a decisive 4-0 victory over New Zealand.
Zambia was full of willing runners, but lacked cutting edge against Canada.
Canada opens the scoring on counterattack
It was a stoppage-heavy first half due to numerous injury delays, and Zambia’s Nana Malanda had to leave the match in the 34th minute.
The Canadians took the lead in the 13th minute on the counterattack when a classy pass from Olivia Chisholm put Kekic behind the Zambian defense. Kekic, who had shot over the bar minutes earlier, made no mistake this time as he fired a low shot past Zambia goalkeeper Loveness Chingwele.
Feria-Estrada doubled the lead in the 30th minute when, after a Canadian throw-in, Taylor launched a cross into the Zambian penalty area. Kekic moved one leg and missed but the ball found Feria-Estrada, who swept it.
Angus made it 3-0 with a spectacular shot in the 39th minute from outside the area. Deftly controlling a hard pass with his knee, he unleashed a left-footed shot over Chingwele that darted into the top corner of the goal.
Fiji referee Torika Delai pointed to the penalty spot when substitute Julia Amireh cleared a tangle with Zambia captain Mercy Chipasula.
Zambia questioned the decision and Delai turned to the fieldside monitor and decided to stick with his decision after video review. But Kekic sent his penalty wide of the post in the 60th minute.
Canada then unsuccessfully challenged the penalty, apparently on the grounds that the goalkeeper stepped off her line.
The video support system allows coaches two requests per game for a video review. If the referee’s review results in the original decision being changed, the team retains its request.
2nd goal by Feria-Estrada in a nice free kick
Taylor headed Canada’s fourth goal off a corner in the 80th minute with Medley, receiving the ball from Amireh behind the Zambian defense, adding the fifth five minutes later. Feria-Estrada closed the scoring in the 92nd minute with a beautiful free kick from outside the penalty area.
Canada outshot Zambia 12-10 (9-5 in shots on goal).
Canada head coach Jen Herst made one change to her starting lineup with Feria-Estrada replacing Amireh. Canada was without suspended forward Reed Tingley, who was sent off for a second yellow card against France after coming on as a substitute.
Zambia’s starting eleven featured defender Faith Kaunda, who turned 15 last week. Melyna Alexis, the 15-year-old Canadian, came on in the 71st minute.
The Zambians were the last African country involved in the tournament. Ivory Coast and Cameroon failed to get out of the group stage and hosts Morocco and Nigeria lost in the round of 16.
Zambia was participating in its third edition of the under-17 championship, having failed to exit the group stage in 2014 and 2024 with a combined record of 1-5-0. Zambia qualified for the 2025 tournament by defeating Tanzania (4-0) and Benin (6-2-) in a home-and-away series in the Africa U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Canada missed the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but made it to all seven previous editions. CONCACAF only sent two teams to the 2024 FIFA championship: CONCACAF’s Dominican Republic hosted the tournament and Canada finished third in the standings after losing 2-1 to Mexico after extra time in the semifinal.
Led by interim head coach Gary Moody, the young Canadians qualified for the FIFA 2025 tournament in April, going undefeated atop their CONCACAF qualifying group by beating Nicaragua (5-0), Panama (2-0) and Puerto Rico (3-2).
