Face Mexico on Sunday
Super susbstitute, Lazero Vinicius Marques playing for Flamengo club sporting shirt no 20 for Brazil nicked last minute victory for the host country when he scored the decider in 89th minute to give Brazil 3-2 in the U17 second semifinals played at the country’s capital, Brasilia early Friday morning Nigerian time.
France scored their two goals through A. Mulinga 7′ and African born Nathaniel Mbuku made it two at 13′ before half time.
On resumption, Brazil upgraded scoring through Jorge 62′ and got equalizer 76′ through G. De Souza before the Lazero clincher that made the entire Brazil go gaga.
The Facebook page of Lazero Vinicius Marques i visited said he was born March 22, 2002, plays for club de Regastas de Flamengo and had scored 19 goals in all competitions before the U17 world cup finals but his clincher is his first goal in the tournament and has a yellow card to his name in the competition.
It was the first time Brazil fully controlled a game having possession 61-31%, 4-3 corner kicks but has 12 fouls each and two yellow cards each. Poor France completely lost concentration in the second half.
The former champs, France will battle for Bronze with Netherlands on Sunday at 1900 hours Nigerian time at the same stadium in Brasilia.
Netherlands lost 3-4 on penalties after 1-1 at full time to Mexico in the first Semis. It was the only match so far decided by penalties in this tournament. Mexico look ordained to win matches via penalties as the team had beaten Brazil 11-10 on penalties to move to finals in 2011.
Three times former champions, The Samba boys of Brazil will try to lift the trophy for the 4th time as they battle Mexico in the grand finale at 2300 hours. Mexico had won the trophy once.
-ENIOLA OLATUNJI
