After they finished 2nd in the U-20 AFCON, the Young Scorpions won their first U-20 World Cup match since 2007, defeating Honduras 2-1 at the Mendoza Stadium on Monday.

Adama Bojang’s brace fired The Gambia to a 2-1 win over Honduras in their Argentina 2023 curtain-raiser.

The Gambia 2-1 Honduras

Goals: Bojang (1, 84), Aceituno (5)

The Gambia defeated Honduras 2-1 in an entertaining game at Mendoza Stadium in Group F of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™.

A lightning-fast start saw The Gambia take the lead after no more than 20 seconds when Adama Bojang rifled home a stunning long-range effort. Honduras responded four minutes later when Marco Aceituno headed home to an inviting Isaac Castillo centre.

The Young Scorpions almost retook the lead midway through the second half, when Bojang burst beyond Honduras’s backline and skipped around goalkeeper Juergen Garcia. Still, Geremy Rodas did exceptionally well to get back and clear his effort off the line.

Bojang would eventually break through again. Garcia did well to save a low header from the forward, but he was on hand to turn home the rebound and fire The Gambia back in front.

Honduras thought lightning had struck twice when Daniel Carter headed in just four minutes later, but replays showed the substitute was marginally offside and the goal was chalked off.

The Gambia and Honduras will return to Group F action on Thursday against France and Korean Republic, respectively.

The stat

• 20 seconds

Adama Bojang’s strike after just 20 seconds was the quickest goal scored at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the fourth fastest in the tournament’s history.

Amadou Sagna’s effort for Senegal against Tahiti after just nine seconds at Poland 2019 remains the quickest.

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