KOLKATA — Impressive forward Mohammed Dawood scored a goal in each half to power Iraq past Chile 3-0 in Group F of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 here Wednesday.

The Iraqis are now well-placed to advance with four points from two matches after an opening 1-1 draw with Mexico.

England tops the group with six points, while El Tri sit one above Chile, which has yet to get off the mark or score a goal so far in India.

Dawood opened his account in the sixth minute, showing determination and quickness to control a rebound from his own shot before bursting past two defenders. His effort from a tight angle picked up a deflection on the way through, leaving goalkeeper Rodrigo Cancino with no chance.

The second goal was sheer class, seeing Dawood’s freekick from a just outside the box curl around the wall and into the net. He could have completed his hat trick, following on from a Chilean own goal, but for a fine save by Cancino to repel his penalty in second-half injury time.

England again impressed in Group F after holding off a furious Mexican rally to win 3-2 and qualify for the Round of 16.

The English, who beat Chile 4-0 in their opener, were ahead by three goals and in full control of the match, but the two-time U-17 world champions found another gear near the hour mark, and Diego Lainez’s seven-minute brace made for a dramatic ending to the contest.

Rhian Brewster scored the only goal of the first half with a lovely 25-yard freekick over the Mexican wall.

The Three Lions pulled away after the break, as Jadon Sancho set up Philip Foden, who fired in a pinpoint shot from just inside the box, and then converted a penalty himself after El Tri captain Carlos Robles handled the ball in his own box.

Lainez was fortunate in his first goal after his powerful shot deflected off Joel Latibeaudiere, but his second goal was down to placement, as he scooped a left-footed shot across England goalkeeper Curtis Anderson and inside the far post.

Mexico is on just one point from two matches played.

Two goals by Amine Gouiri gave France a 2-1 victory over Japan in Group E.

It was Les Bleuets that caused the Japanese problems in the early stages at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, with Gouiri posing a particular threat. The Olympique Lyonnais youngster opened the scoring on 13 minutes.

The prolific Gouiri scored again just past the midway point of the second half, as he finished off a superb bit of inter-play with Yacine Adli in the Japanese box. Yet, the second France goal prompted a reply for Japan, who halved the deficit through a Taisei Miyashiro penalty.

Carlos Mejia and Patrick Palacios each scored twice to lead Honduras to an emphatic 5-0 victory over New Caledonia.

The Central Americans claimed control of the contest with two goals in as many minutes.

Mejia scored the first of his two goals on 25 minutes before the supplier of Honduras’ opener found the scoresheet himself, as Joshua Canales struck home a sublime free-kick two minutes later. Mejia then got his second goal just before the break, as he converted a Santiago Cabrera cross to put Los Catrachos three goals up at half time.

The CONCACAF side extended its advantage six minutes after the break through a well-taken Palacios header before he got his second of the match in the late stages to secure Honduras’ biggest win at a U-17 World Cup. — Agencies