The quarter-finals of the 2015 U-20 World Cup in New Zealand were short on goals, but high on drama.
From the four matches, only three goals were scored, as three were decided by penalty shootouts. The four remaining teams are one step closer to glory, but all too aware of the fine margins involved in advancing.
Only Senegal came through their last-eight encounter in normal time, as they beat Uzbekistan 1-0, and they now face Brazil in the semi-finals after the South Americans came through on penalties against Portugal.
Germany-downing Mali—who beat the favourites in a shootout after a 1-1 draw—now face up to Serbia.
Read on for a full preview of the semi-final action, along with live streaming information for both matches.
| Date | Time (BST/ET) | Fixture | Venue |
| June 17 | 5 a.m./midnight | Brazil vs. Senegal | Christchurch |
| June 17 | 8:30 a.m./3:30 a.m. | Serbia vs. Mali | Auckland |
FIFA
Live streaming available in the U.S. via Fox Soccer 2Go, and in the UK via Eurosport Player.
Brazil opened their tournament in typically Brazilian fashion. They topped their group with three victories from three, scoring nine goals and conceding three.
However, the goals have dried up in the knockout stages. Fortunately, though, they have also been keeping them out.
Back-to-back 0-0 draws in the last 16 and quarter-finals have seen the Brazilians forced to win two penalty shootouts to advance this far.
While the positive outlook of this trend is their rigid defence, the lack of goals is a concern, and remarkably un-Brazilian.
Against Senegal, fresh from their normal-time win over Uzbekistan, Brazil need to find their scoring boots.
Their African opponents are on the up, and Senegal coach Joseph Koto believes his side are improving with every game, per FIFA:
I can tell you that Dakar is not sleeping right now. Everyone thought we’d get hammered 5-0, 6-0, 7-0 in all our games, but the team has improved with each round and everyone is watching our matches now.
Brazil certainly have the personnel to beat Senegal and make it to the final, but the likes of Manchester United's Andreas Pereira will need to step up to get the goals.
As for Mali and Serbia in the second semi-final, both have tremendous momentum, particularly the African outfit, having upset Germany in the previous round. They also put three past Ghana in a convincing last-16 display.
But previous form in this tournament suggests that Mali are the underdogs, having lost to Serbia 2-0 in the group stages.
Adama Traore has been Mali's star man throughout this tournament so far, and his contribution will be key on Wednesday.
But the Serbian defence could prove difficult to breach; they have conceded just once throughout the tournament so far.
The prospect of an all-African final is an exciting, if unlikely, potential result of the last-four action.
All four sides have had their difficulties in making it this far, and only two can proceed to the final for the chance to take the big prize. Which two it will be remains to be seen, but there are two exciting clashes in store on Wednesday.
(source: bleacherreport.com/)