Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Position: Defender
Nationality: Spain
Antonio Barragan Rumours and Transfers
02 07 2007
The FIFA U-20 World Cup hosts might were celebrating Canada Day however Chile paid no heed to the spirit of celebration on the national holiday as they opened up their Group A campaign with handsome 3-0 win. Elsewhere, Japan outclassed Scotland, Jordan held Zambia, Uruguay were pegged back by a resurgent Spain and Nigeria squeezed past Costa Rica despite a hectic schedule across the country.
In Toronto, Chile opened the scoring against Canada on 25 minutes after a harmless-looking ball by Dagoberto Currimilla confused Marcus Haber and Nicolas Medina had taken the gift and beat past Asmir Begovic from close range. The Canadians, looking swamped and out of their depth for large parts of the match, were again undone in the 54th minute when Carlos Carmona nodded home from inches out after a free kick from the left was headed back across the line. Jaime Grondona wrapped up the points and finished any expects of an unlikely Canadian comeback when he rounded off a fluid eight-pass move, supplying the finishing touch with his very 1st kick after coming on as a substitute.
A sell out crowd at Victoria′s Royal Athletic Park saw Japan storm into life with a 3-1 triumph over Scotland in Group F. Japan had taken the lead only before half time after an error by Scotland captain Scott Cuthbert presented a chance to Yosuke Kashiwagi, who gladly accepted. Tsukasa Umesaki′s long-range strike made it 2-0 in the 57th minute and Jun Aoyama added a 3rd after 79 before substitute Ross Campbell netted for the dispirited Scots with 8 minutes remaining.
Ideye shines
Nigeria, dancing to the beat of an enjoyable musical accompaniment by compatriots in the lively stands, had taken the match to Costa Rica from the start of the concluding part of Victoria′s double-header. Brown Ideye caused them all manner of problems with his agile, powerful running and he hit the crossbar in the 18th minute. Nigeria goalie Moses Ocheje had to be stretchered off after hurting his neck in a collision only after half time however the Africans were smiling again when Uwa Echiejile′s corner found emerging player Ideye, who watched with joy as his header looped over the outstretched hand of Ticos′ goalie Alfonso Quesada in the 75th minute for the game′s solitary goal.
Over in Burnaby, the clash between Jordan and Zambia had an explosive start when Tariq Al Jumah was sent off for handling the ball nearer to the goal line to keep out a header by Dennis Banda. Fwayo Tembo scored from the resulting penalty after 8 minutes and, at that stage, Zambia looked set to run away with it. However, a sloppy clearance by William Njobvu only before the interval put the load on his own goalie Jacob Banda and Jordan′s Abdallah Salim beat him to it to equalise. That gave Jordan their 1st ever U-20 World Cup point, with Zambia′s Rodgers Kola also seeing red before the break after an off the ball incident as both sides finished with 10 men.
Spain fight back
That was followed by a classic as Spain came from 2 down to snatch a point against Uruguay. The South Americans came closest to going in front in the opening period as Spanish goalie and captain Adan was literally forced to sit on the ball despite a frantic scramble, where Edinson Cavani, Juan Surraco and Luis Suarez all failed to find the decisive touch. The Uruguayans scored 1st 2 minutes after the restart when Cavani converted a pass from the left by Luis Suarez, who in turn had received a good ball by Marcel Roman.
9 minutes later it was 2-0 as a cutting combination was forged through the centre by Roman and Suarez, who did not hesitate to shoot from outside the area to fire past Adan. In a twist to the tale, Spain pulled one back with a header by Adrian Lopez after a long pass from Antonio Barragan and, deep into stoppage time, Diego Capel grabbed a dramatic leveller with a clever lob over stranded goalie Mauro Goicoechea.
