A changing of the guard will take place in the UEFA U17 European Championships after Belgium’s Jamie Yayi Mpie helped dethrone defending champions Spain.
The Belgians came from behind to defeat La Rojita, who won the 2017 edition of the tournament in Croatia with a penalty shoot-out victory over this year’s hosts England, at the Banks’s Stadium in Walsall on Monday afternoon.
Alejandro Baena reacted quickest to poke home at the second attempt to fire Spain in front with eight minutes on the clock but two goals in eight second-half minutes sealed a quarter-final success for Belgium.
Half-time substitute Halim Timassi produced an instant impact, delivering the ball from the left flank for Yorbe Vertessen to convert his third goal of the tournament just a minute after the break.
Then, with 48 minutes on the clock, an attempted clearance from Spain’s Arnau Tenas looped off Yayi Mpie and into the net to seal a 2-1 triumph for the Belgians, who will tackle the semi-finals for the third time in their history.
Meanwhile, on Monday evening, the Netherlands defeated the Republic of Ireland in an astonishing penalty shoot-out at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield.
The Dutch won the shoot-out 5-4 but only after their opponents had a reprieve dramatically snatched away.
James Corcoran thought he had forced sudden death after saving Deshan Redan's fifth and final spot-kick for the Netherlands but the Ireland goalkeeper was shown a second yellow card for coming off his line and, with defender Oisin McEntee between the sticks, Redan buried the re-take to send the Dutch through.
Earlier, with 18 minutes to go, Liam van Gelderen had headed home from a Mohammed Ihattaren corner but Troy Parrott made it 1-1 - and ultimately forced penalties - just moments later, lashing home with aplomb.
On Sunday, Bobby Duncan and Xavier Amaechi were on target as Steve Cooper’s England defeated Norway 2-0 at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.
With 14 minutes gone, Nat Ogbeta charged down the left side of the Norwegian box and whipped in a cross for Bobby Duncan to nod home before Xavier Amaechi made things safe nine minutes into the second period, coolly slotting home after good work from Bukayo Saka.
England will be joined in the semis by Group A rivals Italy, who needed just the one goal to progress to the semi-finals.
It arrived with just four minutes into their quarter-final tie against Sweden, striker Edoardo Vergani smartly turning in the box and shifting the ball onto his left foot before lashing into the top corner, giving Swedish keeper Simon Andersson no chance.
That was all it took for the Azzurri to run out 1-0 winners at the New York Stadium in Rotherham.
In Thursday's semi-finals, Italy take on Belgium in Rotherham while England lock horns with the Netherlands in Chesterfield.
