BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Italy and Uruguay will meet on Sunday for the U-20 World Cup title. Italy knocked out South Korea with a 2-1 win and Uruguay beat Israel 1-0 in the earlier semi-final.
Both semi-finals took place at the Unico Diego Armando Maradona Stadium at La Plata, which will also host the final and the playoff for 3rd place.
Uruguay reached tournament final in 1997 and 2013 but has never won the U20 title. The Celeste lost those to Argentina and France.
Italy will play the decider for the first time.
2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup runners-up South Korea will not have opportunity to right the heartbreak of the last edition; rather they will fight for a podium finish in the third place playoffs against Israel.
Italy has been one of the best teams in this year’s edition of U-20 World Cup, and they have been able to win a lot of matches in the competition.
Italy head coach started his best players in the game with the hope of getting the victory, and they were able to secure a well deserved win over South Korea.
Goals from Cesare Casadei and substitute Simone Pafundi gave Italy a remarkable victory, despite the fact that Seung-Won Lee scored a goal for South Korea.
Uruguay defeated Israel 1-0 to advance to its third U-20 World Cup final.
Target man Anderson Duarte scored the only goal of the match in the Argentinian city of La Plata in the 61st minute from close range.
The semifinal was decided by one of the few opportunities either team had during the match.
Israel goalkeeper Tomer Zarfati deflected a shot by Alan Matturro and it hit his left post, but Duarte was quicker than the Israeli defenders to put the ball in the back of the net.
After the goal, Israel had few opportunities to equalize in the remaining 30 minutes.
Uruguay also reached tournament final in 1997 and 2013. The Celeste lost those to Argentina and France, respectively.
The Uruguay No 7 spurned a great opportunity at the start of the second, but he was soon on the score-sheet.
Alan Matturro powered forward and unleashed a fine, low strike that came back off the post after Zarfati had got a slight touch on the shot.
Duarte reacted instantly and, sliding in, got there before two Israelis to poke it home.
Uruguay kept possession thereafter to become the sixth nation to reach three U-20 World Cup finals.
