Minnows Mali continued to surprise after booking their place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 win on penalties against Germany in Christchurch, after the game finished 1-1 after extra time.
Julian Brandt's opener had put tournament favourites Germany ahead, though a Djigui Diarra penalty save and Souleymane Coulibaly header levelled things up, with the two teams unable to break the deadlock. Niklas Stark fired the crucial spot-kick wide and sent Fanyeri Diarra's team into dreamland.
In another quarter final match, Brazil defeated Portugal with a 3-1 win on penalties after both the teams were unable to score a goal in the full quota of 90 minutes at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium. Brazil can count themselves highly fortunate, after their European opponents failed to win a match which they dominated.
