Spain and China qualified for the knockout stage of the final 16 when they scored wins in their second group match while Honduras and Panama were ushered out of contention on Tuesday in the FIFA World Yougth Championship.

Spain were at their dashing best thrashing Chile 7-0 with their star striker Fernando Llorente stealing the show at the Vijverberg Stadium in Doetinchem with a master class in finishing against a Chilean side unable to withstand a patient and disciplined Iberian attack. That Chile could go from firing seven past Honduras on Saturday to shipping seven goals tonight was an irony lost on no-one.

In Utrecht, meanwhile, the first match of the evening saw China and Ukraine sqaure off for a place in the knockout stage. Both sides had impressed in their openers, and they served up a fine spectacle again. Dmytro Vorobei opened the scoring for the eastern Europeans before Zhu Ting cracked home a fabulous half-volley to the delight of the small but noisy Chinese contingent in the stands.

The second half was a real humdinger. The Chinese went ahead when Chen Tao converted from the spot, but then Zhu Ting was sent off for arguing with and pushing refree. Oleksandr Aliiev made no mistake with the penalty and the sides were level again.

One man down, the Asians would probably have settled for a point, but Cui Peng popped up with a quarter-hour left to head home from close range to snatch the win. With six points, China are also safely through to the last sixteen, but Ukraine now need to take something from their final match against Turkey.

In the second game in Utrecht, Senol Ustaomer's Turkey got the better of valiant Panama. An early goal from Gokhan Gulec, rounding off a clever three-man move, was enough to send the sizeable Turkish section of the crowd home happy. Turkey could have won by a wider margin, but the three points give them hope of qualifying for the knockout stage.

As for Panama, it is looking increasingly likely they will be joining their Honduran counterparts, which slumped to a 5-0 loss against Morocco following a 7-0 drubbing by Chile, on the early flight home.

Argentina, beaten 1-0 by the United States in their first game, went back on to the track with a 2-0 win over Egypt. And despite a cautious opening period in which their opponents were unable to raise the tempo, the Albiceleste still saw two efforts come back off the crossbar. Chastened by their experience against the Americans, coach Francisco Ferraro chose not to play with fire this time, and handed starts to Lionel Messi and Neri Cardozo.

It was a bold move that gave Argentina an attacking spearhead of four players up front, and eventually paid off when, straight after the interval, Oberman set up Messi to fire in the first goal.

The South Americans then took a grip on the game, and it came as no surprise when their captain Pablo Zabaleta doubled the advantage after a series of chances. That strike allowed the 2003 semi-finalists to take their foot off the pedal, but it leaves Egypt praying for a miracle as they stare down the barrel of elimination.

Germany faced the Uinted States in the second match of the evening. A fast-paced encounter between the two winners in the previous round of matches ended in a goalless draw.

Eddie Gaven and Freddy Adu both spread panic in the German defence in the first half, before substitutes Marcell Jansen and Sahr Senesie troubled the States towards the end.

It was the Americans who left the pitch with the most regrets. Their wayward finishing let them down in a game they dominated, although the draw remains a decent result for both sides.

Source: Xinhua