THE DAY REPLAYED - Like day one of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017, day two saw not a single draw, with the first four games in Groups C and D all producing decisive results. And like the opening four matches of the competition, the second batch of four games had plenty of suspense and entertainment, with no more than one goal separating the winners from the losers.

Iran registered their first FIFA U-20 World Cup victory in 40 years when they saw off Costa Rica by a solitary goal, while Japan and Zambia marked their returns to the competition after a decade-long absence by respectively beating South Africa and Portugal 2-1. Finally, Uruguay got the better of Italy in a tight game settled by a superb strike by Rodrigo Amaral, who is tipped to be one of the stars of the tournament.

Results Group C: Zambia 2-1 Portugal  | Iran 1-0 Costa Rica Group D: South Africa 1-2 Japan  | Italy 0-1 Uruguay

Memorable moments*A formidable trident Zambia’s three-pronged strike force of Patson Daka, Edward Chilufya, and Fashion Sakala accounted for all but two of the 13 goals the Junior Chipolopolo* racked up at the 2017 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Nevertheless it was only after Daka was stretchered off with a head injury three minutes before half-time in their meeting with Portugal that the Zambian front line began to show what it can do, with Chilufya pulling the Africans level on 51 minutes and Sakala grabbing the winner 14 minutes from time.

Japan show their stature Aside from goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto, who stands 5’9 (1.75m) tall, the entire South Africa starting XI against Japan on Sunday all measured below 5’7 (1.70m), with Sibongake Mbatha the shortest of them all at 5’1 (1.56m). Though Amajita – as South Africa’s U-20s are known – showed they had a head for heights by taking the lead against a side that did not concede at all during the Asian qualifiers, they eventually came off second best. As fate would have it, Japan’s youngest and shortest player, the 15-year-old Takefusa Kubo (height: 5’6 (1.67m)), played an instrumental part in his side’s comeback win, teeing up Ritsu Doan for the winner.

More penalty woes for De la Cruz Uruguay’s Nicolas de la Cruz missed with a Panenka-style penalty in his side's opening match at the South American U-20 Championship in Venezuela, a mishap that did not prevent them from going on to win the competition. Undeterred, De la Cruz stepped up to the spot again when the Uruguayans were awarded a 43rd-minute penalty against Italy. And once again, he was to be denied, with Andrea Zaccagno keeping out what was a more conventional effort on goal. The South Americans showed their powers of recovery once more, however, kicking on to collect a crucial three points.

The words“Our U-17 team reached their World Cup, we qualified for Korea Republic 2017 and our senior team is on the way to booking their place at the World Cup in Russia. It all goes to show how much our country has developed in terms of football.” Iran coach Amirhossein Peiravani reacts to their first U-20 World Cup win since 1977

Up next*Wednesday 24 May

*Zambia-Iran

South Africa-Italy

Costa Rica-Portugal

Uruguay-Japan