Mexico’s Diego Cortes's superb solo effort against Nigeria has been named Goal of the Tournament for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. The midfielder’s incredible run and finish in the semi-final against the Golden Eaglets saw him gather possession on the right touchline and began a stunning dribble at speed, weaving past five defenders before coolly crowning the move with a low shot. Cortes picked up 33 per cent of the vote, ahead of Chile's Gonzalo Jara, who earned 14 per cent for his delightful curling effort against USA. MatthiasVerreth of Belgium came in third with 12 per cent for his fierce strike against Korea Republic.
The 21,000 spectators gathered in Conception’s Estadio Municipal Ester Roa briefly gasped in the 59th minute of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015 semi-final between Mexico and Nigeria. The breathtaking spectacle they witnessed was a fantastic individual goal from Diego Cortes to earn El Tri an equaliser at 2-2 and allow them to dream of reaching the final.
“I collected the pass, set off and just looked out for the gaps all the time,” he later explained to FIFA.com. “All of a sudden I was in front of goal and scored. Obviously I checked to see whether any of my team-mates were free but nobody was,” he said of his moment in the spotlight. “I don’t do that often, but it’s a great feeling.”
His coach Mario Arteaga was also full of praise after the final whistle as he discussed this remarkable strike, but admitted to being somewhat surprised, given that dribbling is not traditionally among the midfielder’s key strengths. One thing that is certain, however, is that Cortes is among the fastest players in Mexico’s U-17 squad. He proved this against hosts Chile in the Round of 16, beginning an attack on the right before sprinting into the penalty area to meet a cross with a powerful strike and wrap up a 4-1 win with his first goal of the tournament.
Unfortunately Cortes was not in the mood to celebrate his latest breakthrough in the maze of tunnels as the North Americans went on to concede another two goals to Nigeria in their semi-final to end their dreams of a third FIFA U-17 World Cup title.
“Although I’m obviously disappointed, we can be proud of having given it our all.”In a rematch of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 final-a game Nigeria won 3-0 - both sides exchanged blows from the outset, with the Mexicans taking the lead only for the Golden Eaglets to strike back twice before half-time. The Africans ultimately proved their superior stamina by finding the target twice more after Cortes’s acclaimed equaliser.
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