JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) -- France and the Netherlands will meet on Wednesday in the final of the men's 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship as both teams on Sunday won on penalties in their respective semifinals.
Both games, in which France beat Portugal while the Netherlands eliminated Serbia, ended 2-2 after 90 minutes with no extra-time played.
Warren Zaire-Emery made it 1-0 for France in the eighth minute, but Alfonso Moreira and Dario Essugo, with an amazing shot from 40 meters, soon gave Portugal the lead.
An own goal by Joao Muniz just before half-time brought the score back to 2-2, with no more goals in the second half.
After five successful penalties for each team, France goalkeeper Lisandru Olmeta saved Manuel Mendonca's penalty, while El Chadaille Bitshiabu scored to give France a 6-5 victory in the shootout.
In the second semifinal, reigning champions the Netherlands took the lead in the 47th minute through Jason van Duiven. But Jovan Milosevic, the top scorer of the tournament so far, netted his fifth goal in the 50th minute to even things up.
Jovan Mijatovic made it 2-1 for the Serbs five minutes later, but Jaden Slory scored an equalizer in the 73rd minute.
The Dutch scored all their five penalties, and went through after Mateja Radonjic's effort was saved by goalkeeper Tristan Kuijsten.
In the final, the Dutch reigning champions will try to win the championship for a fifth time and their third in a row, while France will aim for a third title. ■