As our SA U20 side prepare to make World Cup history, we take a look at the difficult history of what came before, and the incredible talent that turned the team's fortunes around so much so they stand on the cusp of a quarterfinal at the global showpiece.
Amajita reached the knockout phase of the global tournament for the second time following their win over the Young Stars and Stripes. First-half goals were enough to earn the Southern African side the win.
South Africa registered their biggest win at the tournament by outclassing their group rivals. However, head coach Raymond Mdaka said although the game was not an easy affair, Amajita should have scored more goals.
The Europeans secured the slim win over the African representatives courtesy of a late second-half goal in a game that was also characterised by a number of missed chances. Amajita's focus now shifts to the next match, where they will face the tournament's debutants in search of their first win in this year's edition.
Benjamin Cremaschi wasted no time stamping his authority on the U20 World Cup opener in Chile, as the U.S. routed New Caledonia 9-1 on Monday. The Parma midfielder struck twice inside the opening minutes to put Marko Mitrović’s team firmly in control, later completing a hat-trick. Niko Tsakiris opened up the scoring in the seventh minute for the U.S.
The Sea Robber has been a sensation both for the club and the national team because of his consistency and work rate. However, he has been overlooked by the Amajita head coach, who did not include him in his U20 World Cup squad.
New Caledonia U20
