Colombia U-17 0-4 Switzerland U-17: Swiss Romp Into U-17 World Cup Final

Debutants Switzerland have made it all the way to the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria, trouncing Colombia 4-0 in the first semi-final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

For Sunday's final at the Abuja National Stadium, Switzerland will await the winner of the other semi-final between hosts Nigeria and Spain.

Switzerland were a class apart from their South American foes, who looked tired and hardly troubled the Swiss in a very one-sided clash.

The Europeans overwhelmed a Colombian side reduced to ten men after only 13 minutes, when defender Santiago Arias was sent off for a deliberate hand ball inside his penalty box. First-half goals from Nassim Ben Khalifa and Haris Seferovic were added to by Bruno Martignoni and Ricardo Rodriguez in the second period.

Switzerland went in front in the 14th minute through a penalty kick converted by the classy Ben Khalifa, who moments earlier saw his goal-bound shot intentionally handled by Arias, who was sent off.

It was Ben Khalifa's fourth goal of the championship.

Seferovic doubled the Swiss lead in the 36th minute, getting to a through pass from Ben Khalifa. Despite the attention of two Colombian defenders, he fired home past a diving Cristian Bonilla.

The same player blasted wide moments later from inside the box, with the Colombian defense in disarray.

In first half stoppage time, Granit Xhaka crashed his shot from the top of the box against the woodwork. Seferovic failed to tuck away the rebound as the Europeans tried to underline their control of this encounter.

Five minutes after the restart, the Swiss extended their advantage when right full-back Martignoni drove inside the box before smashing an unstoppable cannon past Bonilla.

That third goal effectively killed off the Colombian team, whose fans will best remember this competition for their remarkable late comeback against Argentina in the round of 16.

Switzerland put the game well and truly beyond their opponents in the 68th minute, when defender Ricardo Rodriguez capitalized on the confusion inside the Colombian area to shoot home from six yards.

Xhaka was denied on 85 minutes when his shot was cleared off the line as Switzerland aimed to embarrass their opponents further.

Samm Audu, Goal.com