Canada scored three goals in each half en route to a comfortable 6-0 win over Zambia in their round of 16 match on Wednesday, setting up a quarterfinal match with Brazil at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Sal, Morocco.
The winner of the Canada-Brazil tournament will face either defending champion North Korea or 2014 tournament winner Japan in the semifinals. Brazil defeated China 3-0 in the round of 16 match.
Daniela Feria-Estrada scored twice and Melisa Kekic, Maya Angus, Chloe Taylor and Amy Medley added solo goals for Canada at Mohammed VI Soccer Academy. Some of the goals were spectacular, although Kekić missed a penalty in the second half.
Canada outscored its opponents 18-2, winning four straight games in the 24-team tournament.
Canada's best finish at the U-17 Championships was fourth place in 2018, when it lost to Mexico in the semifinals. He also reached the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014.
Here, Canada qualified for the playoffs by topping Group D with victories over Nigeria (4–1), Samoa (6–0) and France (2–1). Zambia were among the top four third-place finishers behind Japan and Paraguay in Group F.
In Wednesday's other round of 16 match, France defeated 2024 runner-up Spain and 2018 and 2022 champions Spain in a penalty shootout, Mexico beat Paraguay 1-0 and Japan crushed Colombia 4-0.
Zambia, whose entire team is based domestically, recovered from defeats to Paraguay (2-1) and Japan (1-0) with a decisive 4-0 win over New Zealand.
Zambia had plenty of people willing to compete, but lacked the edge over Canada.
Canada opens the scoring on a counterattack
The first half was a back-and-forth affair due to numerous injury delays, with Zambia's Nana Malanda forced off the field in the 34th minute.
The Canadians took the lead in the 13th minute on a counter-attack when Olivia Chisholm's elegant pass put Kekich behind the Zambian defence. Kekich, who had struck over the crossbar minutes earlier, made no mistake this time, sliding low over Zambian goalkeeper Loveness Chingwele.
Feria-Estrada doubled the lead in the 30th minute when Taylor crossed into the Zambian penalty area after a Canadian throw-in. Kekic swung his foot and missed, but the ball found Feria-Estrada and he sent it over.
Angus made it 3-0 with a spectacular strike from outside the area in the 39th minute. Deftly controlling a tight pass with her knee, she left-footed a shot over the diving Chingwele into the top corner of the goal.
Fiji referee Torika Delay pointed to a penalty when substitute Julia Amire got into a fight with Zambia captain Mercy Chipasula.
Zambia disputed the call and Delay approached the pitchside monitor, deciding to stand by her call after the video review. But in the 60th minute Kekic converted her penalty far from the goal post.
Canada then unsuccessfully challenged the penalty, apparently on the grounds that the goalkeeper had gone off the line.
The video support system allows coaches to request video review twice per game. If the referee's check results in a change to the original decision, the team retains its request.
Feria-Estrada's second goal after a beautiful free kick
Taylor headed Canada's fourth goal from a corner in the 80th minute with Medley, receiving the ball from Amire behind the Zambian defense and adding a fifth five minutes later. Feria-Estrada closed the scoring in the 92nd minute with a superb free kick from just outside the area.
Canada beat Zambia 12-10 (9-5 shots on target).
Canada head coach Jen Hurst made one change to her starting lineup, with Feria-Estrada replacing Amire. Canada was without suspended forward Reed Tingley, who was sent off for a second yellow card against France after coming on as a substitute.
Zambia's starting line-up was defender Faith Kaunda, who turned 15 last week. Melina Alexis, a 15-year-old Canadian, entered the field in the 71st minute.
The Zambians were the last African country to participate in the tournament. Ivory Coast and Cameroon failed to progress from the group stage, while hosts Morocco and Nigeria lost their previous round of 16 game.
Zambia were competing in their third U17 Championship, having failed to exit the group stage in 2014 and 2024 with an overall record of 1-5-0. Zambia qualified for the 2025 tournament by defeating Tanzania (4-0) and Benin (6-2) in a two-match FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifying series in Africa.
Canada missed the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but has participated in seven previous tournaments. CONCACAF sent only two teams to the 2024 FIFA Championship, with CONCACAF's Dominican Republic hosting the tournament and Canada finishing third in qualifying, losing 2-1 to Mexico in extra time in the semi-finals.
Under the leadership of interim head coach Gary Moody, the young Canadians qualified for the 2025 FIFA tournament in April by undefeatedly topping the CONCACAF qualifying group with victories over Nicaragua (5-0), Panama (2-0) and Puerto Rico (3-2).
