Football: Mali stun Germany with shootout win

Mali have progressed to the semi-final of the Fifa U-20 World Cup for the first time. Photo / ODT.

Mali 1 Germany 1
(4-3 on penalties)

Highly fancied Germany have been knocked out of the FIFA under-20 World Cup by Mali in very un-German circumstances - losing a penalty shoot-out.

Niklas Stark missed the crucial fifth penalty attempt for Germany to see the Africans win 4-3 on penalties and advance to the semifinals where they will face either USA or Serbia.

The match went into extra-time after finishing locked up 1-1 after 90 minutes. Germany, who went into the clash having netted 17 goals in four matches, opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Julian Brandt scored from a slick half volley. Following a weak free kick into the Mali wall, the ball ballooned up in the air for a German player to lay a header back to Brandt who delivered a fine finish past the Mali goalie Djigui Diarra.

Germany continued to dominate possession and had a chance to double the score from the spot in the 56th minute but Diarra was the savour pushing a Hany Mukhtar shot wide.

It proved to be costly as two minutes later Mali levelled the match up when Souleymane Coulibaly got a glancing header from a free kick.

There were a number of chances for both teams late in the second half and in both periods of extra-time but in the end it was penalties needed to decide the winner. Germany have a reputation in the football as ice-cold penalty takers but after the earlier Mukhtar miss from the spot, Diarra would have taken plenty of confidence into the shootout.

Germany looked to have the upper hand when the fourth Mali taker Adama Traore had his attempt saved. But German goal-scorer Brandt then pushed his attempt wide before Diadie Samassekou scored to switch the pressure on Stark.

Stark, who scored three goals in group play, missed the chance to keep Germany's chances alive as Mali advanced to the final four for the first time.