Spain started their U-17 World Cup campaign against Brazil like a Ferrari, but five minutes into their journey it seemed as if they had exhausted all their fuel.
Stung by an early own goal, the emerging talent from Brazil showed they are a resolute lot, just like their illustrious predecessors. Brazil dominated their rivals for the rest of the game to register a 2-1 comeback win in their U-17 World Cup opener here at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Saturday. The win gave Brazil a vital three points and a head start in the `group of death'.
Incidentally, all the three goals in the game were scored by the Brazilians, with Wesley's own goal putting Spain ahead before the `little Canerians' got back in the game with goals from and Lincoln and Paulinho in the first half.
But the first five minutes of the match were in sharp contrast to how the rest of the script panned out. Brazil were all at sea as soon as the game got under way as Spanish wing er Ferran Torres tore open their defence with raids down the right wing twice in the first few minutes.
In the first instance, his cross found an unmarked Mohamed Moukhliss, but his shot was parried away by Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao. But on the second occasion, Torres worked his magic with his deft footwork and sent a low cross into the box, where an unmarked Moukhliss was waiting to slot the ball in. But before the ball reached Moukhliss, Wesley slid in to thwart danger, only to see the ball brush his leg and reach the back of the net.
Down by a goal in the game, Brazilians didn't let their heads drop and slowly clawed their way back into the match. The triumvirate of Brenner, Paulinho and Lincoln, who were kept quiet in the first quarter of the match, slowly began to get into their stride and the Brazilian moves began to gather momentum.
In the 17th minute, Marcus Antonio split open the Spanish defence with a ball played to Paulinho. But the Brazilian forward's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez. The ball fell at Lincoln's feet but the striker lost his balance and his attempted shot on goal went wide.
It didn't take too long for Brazil to equalise, though. Lincoln made amends for his earlier miss by getting onto the scoresheet in the 25th minute.He collected an excellent cross from Brenner from the left wing and slotted it away past the Spanish goalkeeper to make it level. Spain were dealt a blow in the 34th minute when defender Mateu Jaume was injured and substituted by Victor Perea. After Jaume's substitution, Marcus Antonio began to get some space in the Spanish half and the Brazil midfielder made full. In the added-on time in the first half, Antonio lobbed the ball above Spain's defensive line to find an unmarked Paulinho and the striker beat the off-side trap to fire the ball in and put Brazil ahead.
Spain couldn't create many chances in the second half and their much-hyped striker Abel Ruiz was a big disappointment.
Spain's appeal for a penalty in the penultimate minute was turned down by the referee as Brazilians walked away with deserving three points.
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