Margao: Tournament favourites Brazil lived up to their billing as they scored a convincing 2-0 victory over Niger to top Group D in the Fifa U-17 World Cup, here on Friday. The three-times champions, who enjoyed possession against a spirited Niger outfit, scored through Lincoln (fourth minute) and Brenner (34th).

Debutants Niger gave a good account of themselves and performed better in the second half and had their share of chances, but found the rival keeper Gabriel Brazao a hard nut to crack.

Brazil topped the group with nine points, while Spain, who beat North Korea at Kochi in the day’s other match, finished second with six points.

Brazil, Spain, Ghana, Colombia, Paraguay, Mali, Iran, Germany, France and England are the 10 teams that have made it to the Round of 16. The other six teams to qualify will be decided after the end of Group E and F league engagements on Saturday.

Niger, who finished third with three points still have a chance to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. North Korea finished last without a win.

Brazil once again enthralled the capacity Goan crowd with their one-touch play and sublime skills, taking an early lead in the fourth minute. Midfielder Victor Bobsin, from the right, initiated the move and relayed the ball to Paulino, who ran down the flank and beat the rival defence with a low cross. Lincoln, who was lurking in the danger zone, deftly placed the ball into the back of the net.

The goal spurred Brazil and Lincoln could have scored again two minutes latter, but was unlucky to see his header hit the bar.

Brazil kept on the pressure as they made forays deep into the rival half and Niger keeper once again had to make a diving save from Marcos Antonio’s shot from top of the box midway into the first half.

Niger, who played with five defenders, found it difficult to keep the marauding Brazilian attack at bay even as they resorted to hard tackle and defender Dijbrilla Ibrahim was shown a yellow card for a foul on Vitinho.

Brenner, who took a 20-yard free kick, directed the ball to the far corner of the net even as the rival keeper dived but could not save his team from conceding its second goal.

Brazil were hit by the Vitinho injury blow that forced Carlos Amadeu  to bring in Helio Junio as a replacement.

Close to the hour mark, Lincoln got it all right controlling Vitao's long lob in between his markers in the Niger box but shot too high in a bid to tip it over the onrushing Lawali.

A rare mispass by Brazil's Wesley in the midfield could have cost them dearly. The ball fell for Ibrahim Namata who played it for Wa Massamba expecting a return pass, though the latter made use of the space afforded to him on the right and the shot needed an equally good save from Brazao.

Niger's Habibou Sofiane got carried away in attack after faltering to trap Ibrahim Boubacar's on his first touch and shot wide in the haste of losing the ball in the 68th minute.

Ismaila Tiemoko's side got close again in the 85th minute when Namata's attempt to find the far corner was just above put above his goal by Brazao.

Niger goalkeeper Lawali too did well to avert Junio's cross from the right that had Lincoln eminently waiting to tap the ball home from across the face of goal. Wesley's shot in injury time hit the outside netting of the goal as Brazil weren't able to add to their first-half tally. 

In Kochi, Mohammed Moukhliss and Cesar Gelabert struck a goal each as Spain secured a Round of 16 berth. Moukhliss opened the scoring as early as in the fourth minute, while Gelabert doubled the lead by striking one in the 71st minute.

At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Spain had no trouble against their opponents from North Korea, and the match went on expected lines.

With this result, North Korea bow out of the tournament without a win. The first goal came when Moukhliss shot one from the centre of the box off an assist by Gelabert.

The Spaniards dominated the game and had the lion’s share of ball possession.

Gelabert added the second goal in the second half, as his right-footed shot from a very close range found the back of the net. So dominant was Spain that they even came close to scoring in the injury time of the second half.

Spain had come into the tournament as one of the title favourites. They had started well against the South American giants Brazil, before defensive lapses saw them go down 1-2.

(PTI)

RESULTS

In Kochi: Group C — Germany 3 Guinea 1; Group D — Spain 2 North Korea 0.
In Margao: Group C — Iran 3 Costa Rica 0; Group D — Brazil 2 Niger 0.