The programme on 11 June at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 consisted of no less than six matches featuring four European teams, three from the CONCACAF Zone, two from South America, two from Africa and one from Asia. It promised to be an intriguing night's football, and the crowds that gathered in Doetinchem, Enschede and Utrecht did not go home disappointed with 21 goals scored in the six matches at an average of 3.5 goals per game.

To Enschede first, where the locals were treated to a thrilling rerun of the competition's 2003 quarter-final between the United States and Argentina. Two years ago, it was the Albiceleste who prevailed courtesy of a 'golden penalty' converted by Fernando Cavenaghi in extra time. This time much of the pre-match talk was of the prospective duel between two "child prodigies", the USA's Freddy Adu and the Argentine Lionel Messi. In the end, the first was somewhat eclipsed by his attacking partner Chad Barrett, while the second did not make an appearance until after half-time.

Despite the repeated if slightly disorganised attacks mounted by the South Americans, their principal threats, Gustavo Oberman, Neri Cardozo and Pablo Zabaleta, were unable to find a way past the man with the Mohican, Quentin Westberg, in the U.S. goal. Barrett, in contrast, did find the back of the net, thereby securing sweet revenge for the Americans, who can even look back on the luxury of a missed Adu penalty.

Enschede ended up being spoilt for top-class entertainment on the night, as the match between Germany and Egypt, though taking a while to get going, culminated in a thrilling finale. While the Egyptians carved out the most clear-cut openings before the break courtesy of the inventive play of Mahmoud Abdelrazek, the Germans regained control of the midfield in the second half to physically dominate their opponents.

There was an air of predictability about Nicky Adler's opener with a quarter of an hour remaining. The Egyptians responded with a first of a less welcome kind, when Abdallah Shahat received the first red card of the competition, swiftly followed by a second for Mohamed Mahmoud. Reduced to nine men, the Egyptians soon shipped a second goal, scored by the German player of Cameroonian extraction, Marvin Matip. 

The big occasion seemed to adversely affect the concentration of a few players. In a Doetinchem drenched by downpours, the first action featured Spain and Morocco with the Iberians opening the scoring after a disappointing first half. The goal stemmed from a weak back pass from Ahmed Kantari, which Llorente intercepted to score.

It marked the beginning of a painful night for the Moroccan goalkeeper. In the second half, he let a shot slip through his fingers into the net, before reacting too slowly to a low cross that crept into the corner. All that was tough to take for the Moroccans, but at least the late penalty converted by Rida Doulayazal allowed them to leave the stadium with a goal to their account.

Honduras chastened by Chile
The same cannot be said of Honduras, who were on the receiving end of a seven-goal hammering dished out by the Chileans. Many had remarked beforehand that Chile's striker Nicolas Canales was a great talent, but they clearly forgot to mention several of his team-mates. Matias Fernandez, Ricardo Parada and José Fuenzalida all showed themselves to be top-drawer marksmen, the latter two claiming a brace apiece to take an early shared lead atop the tournament top scorers' table. The last time such a great margin of victory was recorded was back in 1997, when a Brazil - Belgium tie ended in a 10-0 win for the South Americans.

The third CONCACAF representatives were equally off-colour, this time in Utrecht, where Panama proved to be a poor second best to the Ukrainians. Just like their country's senior side, Ukraine were particularly lively up front, and in their second participation at a FIFA World Youth Championship, they wasted no time going for the jugular.

With 32 minutes on the clock, they had already as good as wrapped the tie up by establishing a 3-1 lead. Even the Panamanian goal came from a Ukrainian boot, with Volodomyr Arzhanov claiming the dubious honour of the tournament's first own goal. In this talented team, the dynamic wingers Oleksandr Sytnyk and Dmytro Vorobei looked particularly outstanding. For Panama, meanwhile, there was a sense of déjà vu as their second consecutive FIFA World Youth Championship appearance began in much the same vein as the first: with a defeat (1-0 by Burkina Faso in the UAE).

Utrecht was also the scene of an even more impressive performance. Displaying swift movement and some inspired attacking play, China defeated a strong Turkish side courtesy of two goals of great beauty. The first came from a ball cut back into the penalty area, the second from a beautifully struck half-volley in the dying seconds. The Asian outfit also had to contend with a large crowd committed to Turkey's cause, and when Senol Ustaomer's charges levelled the tie late on, the Turks no doubt thought they had done enough to claim a point. But they had reckoned without the stunning final flurry summoned up by the red-hot Chinese.