Portugal 5-0 Mexico - Dominant performance sees Portugal advance at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup | OneFootball

Portugal are through to the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup quarter-finals following a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Mexico in the round of 16.

Rafael Quintas converted an early penalty before Mexico were reduced to 10 men in the 33rd minute, José Navarro deservedly sent off after elbowing Bernardo Lima in the head.

Zeega assisted Anísio Cabral three minutes after half-time before a brutal spell of play saw Portugal score three goals between the 81st and 85th minutes.

Mateus Mide’s cross was tucked home by Zeega, another Mide cross resulting in Miguel Figueiredo finding the net before João Aragão put the ball on a plate for Yoan Pereira.

Goalkeeper Santiago Lopez was sent off in the closing stages in a game to forget for Mexico, the ill-disciplined side crushed in ruthless fashion.

Portugal 5-0 Mexico

It was an exciting start to the game before Portugal began to boss the ball and were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute. Mauro Furtado's long ball was not dealt with by Ian Olvera, José Navarro’s reckless challenge on Duarte Cunha giving referee Fernando Vejar Díaz an easy decision to make. Rafael Quintas stepped up and sent Santiago Lopez the wrong way.

Duarte Cunha got past Olvera but couldn't pick out José Neto as the Equipa das Quinas continued to apply pressure. Mexico were not getting close to testing Romário Cunha and would soon go down to 10 men.

It came from a Mexican free kick into the box where Navarro elbowed Bernardo Lima in the head. The midfielder, with blood coming from his lip, immediately implored Bino Maçães to use a video support review and the replays were conclusive, Vejar Díaz returning to the pitch and producing a red card for the young centre-back.

Zeega created an opportunityfor Lima that he dragged wide as Portugal went into half-time with all the momentum. Carlos Cariño brought on Kenneth Martinez for Iñigo Borgio but his side fell 2-0 behind three minutes after the restart.

Zeega produced a beautiful pass to pick out Anísio Cabral who beat the offside trap, the striker rounding Lopez and slotting the ball into an empty net.

Mexico appeared completely demoralised as Máximo Reyes fired a free kick way over the bar. The contest had gone cold so Bino Maçães made an attempt to heat it up, bringing on Miguel Figueiredo and Mateus Mide for Lima and Cabral.

Mide went close before Maçães made two more substitutions in the 68th minute, Steven Manuel and Cunha making way for Yoan Pereira and João Aragão.

Adrián Villa fired a low drive wide as Mexico applied a rare and brief spell of pressure, their desperation clear for all to see. Maçães' final switch saw Quintas make way for Santiago Verdi who took the captains armband.

Few would have predicted what came next as Portugal scored three goals in four minutes, starting in the 81st after some great work from Mide. The forward got past Jhonnatan Grajales and squeezed a cross to Zeega who made no mistake.

The two players combined again when Zeega released Mide who saw his cross palmed away by Lopez, Figueiredo racing into the box and firing into the net. Figueiredo then released Aragão down the right wing, his perfect cross picking out Yoan Pereira who couldn't miss.

Mexico’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Furtado’s long ball caught out Michael Corona. Aragão got to the ball before Lopez who rushed out of his box and collected the winger with a mistimed clearance, Vejar Díaz showing the goalkeeper a straight red card.

Dominant performance

Portugal dominated the first half and were well on top when José Navarro got himself sent off for a high shot on Bernardo Lima. The contest was effectively settled shortly after half-time when Anísio Cabral scored his sixth goal of the tournament.

Bino Maçães were ruthless in the closing stages as they took advantage of a Mexican side that were leaving themselves exposed.

Mexico, who were missing four players due to suspension, deserved what they got. I don’t like to hammer a team made up entirely of teenagers, but some of their players need to work on controlling their aggression.

The Equipa das Quinas have a great opportunity to go deep at the World Cup and will now face Switzerland in the Round of 16. Portugal will be full strength with Tomás Soares back in the team after serving a suspension.

Line Up

Portugal (4-2-3-1) Romário Cunha; Daniel Banjaqui, Martim Chelmik, Mauro Furtado, José Neto; Rafael Quintas (Santiago Verdi 75’), Bernardo Lima (Miguel Figueiredo 62’); Duarte Cunha (João Aragão 68’), Martim “Zeega” Guedes, Stevan Manuel (Yoan Pereira 68’); Anísio Cabral (Mateus Mide 62’)

Unused substitutes: Alexandre Tverdohlebov, David Rodrigues, Ricardo Neto, Gabriel Dbouk

Goals