England held their nerves to prevail over Japan 5-3 in a penalty shootout to set up a quarter-final clash with USA in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Steve Cooper’s team remained calm in front of a 53,000-strong crowd as substitute Nya Kirby sealed the issue after their goalkeeper Curtis Anderson denied Hinata Kida.
This is their third quarter-final 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 goalless 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 home with Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani making a wrong dive.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Philip Foden and goalkeeper Anderson then found the net.
Japan's Yukihari Sugawara, Taisei Miyashiro and Toichi Kozuki converted from the spot.
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.
In the absence of Sancho, who has been recalled by his club Borussia Dortmund, Foden occupied the attacking midfielder's position in the right-wing.
Foden initiated the moves but they failed to finish and survived a couple of Japanese onslaught late in the first-half.
In the fourth minute, Japan had the first attempt at the goal when Soichiro Kozuki's right footed shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Curtis Anderson.
England had more than 60 per cent first-half possession but Yoshiro Moriyama employed a defensive strategy to thwart the attacks.
The best attack of the first-half came in the 27th minute, when Foden put a through ball to Brewster, whose thunder strike rattled the post.
The match picked up pace towards the half hour mark with Foden initiating moves from the right. England continued their goal search even as Rhian Brewster and Angel Gomes missed back-to-back chances.
In fact, England went into the break under pressure with the Japanese attack stepping on the gas, though the Young Lions defence held on to thwart attempts from Soichiro Kozuki and Keito Nakamura.
Their star forward Takefusa Kubo's 69th minute powerful left-footed shot was brilliantly saved by Anderson.
With seven minutes remaining, Kirby had a fine attempt at goal, only to be blocked by Yuki Kobayashi.
Mali thrash Iraq 5-1, advance to quarters
Mali sailed into the quarter-finals 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 in Margao 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 controlled the proceeding with a steady flow of passes and, after coming close on a few occasions, took the lead in the 25th minute.
Mali will play against the winners of Wednesday’s match between Ghana and Niger.
For the first goal, Salim Jiddou controlled the ball and sent a cross into the box for Drame, who deftly placed it into the net.
The African nation maintained the tempo and doubled the lead a few minutes later. A move on the left saw Djemoussa Traore sprint down into the box and he outsmarted a rival defender before sending in a low cross, which N'Diaye capitalised with a diving header.
The well-built Mali players toyed with the rival defence with repeated forays but the Iraqis did well to keep it to 0-2 at half time.
Iraq, who did not have a clear look at the rival goal, came close to scoring at the stroke of half time when Mohammed Ridha curled in a shot off a free kick, only to be denied by Youssouf Koita.
Mali preferred to play a waiting game and scored the third goal on the counter. Drame worked his way on the right and sent a cross to Konate into the box, who delivered a firm shot that found the roof of the net.
Iraq pulled one back in the 85th minute through Kareem.
Mali then scored twice to finish off the game. Camara controlled the ball inside the box and hit the target with a left-footer.
N'Diaye completed the rout when he scored his second.
