Brazil U-17 kings
AFP, Helsinki
Brazil beat Spain 1-0 to win the under-17 football World Championship in Helsinki on Saturday, taking home their third title after victories in 1997 and 1999 and reclaiming the trophy from defending champions France. Spain came out strong at the start but could not stop Brazilian defender Leonardo scoring the game's only goal in the seventh minute and the South Americans never looked back. Leonardo, a 17-year-old, scored three of Brazil's 15 goals in six games. His winning goal came after Joao's curling free kick hit the post. Leonardo slammed the rebound past Spain goalkeeper Mandaluniz. "In the South American qualifiers we were the best team, but we finished second," Brazil coach Paqueta said. "Today, the result was the most important thing." Brazil easily outplayed and outpaced their European challengers for most of the match. When Brazil's attack found its rhythm, the Spanish defence looked rattled and disorganized, but when Spain attacked Brazil was able to coolly pull together its well-coordinated back line. Brazil had other chances on goal, including Abuda's shot in the 15th minute which hit the post, and with Brazil's dominating play the sole goal made the match appear to be more of a thriller than it really was for the crowd at Helsinki's Toeloe stadium. Throughout the first half the Brazilians played as if they had a five-goal lead, showing off fancy footwork and individual talents instead of playing as a team, and leaving the Spanish squad looking like extras on a movie set. Spain played a smarter game but failed to break through Brazil's defence and remained goalless, with Jurado taking two shots that both just missed the mark and Xisco testing Brazil's keeper Bruno with a header from close range. In the second half, Spain dominated the pitch and had several chances, but none that made it past Bruno as he impressed by letting in only one goal throughout the entire tournament, in Brazil's first match. Cesc, Spain's 16-year-old star, received the Golden Shoe award as the tournament's top goal scorer with five goals, tied with Carlos Hidalgo of Colombia, and the Golden Ball as the best player. "In Cesc, we have discovered a great talent for Spain," Spain coach Juan Santisteban said. In the third-place playoff, Argentina beat Colombia 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the end of normal time.
| 
