Brazil, who enjoyed most of the possession during the final, found their hopes of a sixth Under-20 triumph squashed by a resilient Serbia side, who had their own history to make. PHOTO: AFP
The game had been locked at 1-1 at regulation time after Stanisa Mandic had given the Serbs hopes of their first title as an independent nation with 20 minutes remaining but Andreas Pereira equalised three minutes later.
The former Yugoslavia won the title in 1987 in Chile, with Serbia appearing in the tournament for the first time in New Zealand.
Brazil had the best clear-cut chances in the first half with Jean Carlos and Gabriel producing two top-class saves from Serbia captain Predrag Rajkovic.
Serbia midfielder Sergej Milankovic was unlucky not to score in the second minute of added time in the first half when his header from a corner was well saved by Jean.
The Brazil goalkeeper, who had not conceded a goal since the eighth minute of their second group game against Hungary, was finally beaten when an unmarked Stanisa Mandic stroked the ball home in the 70th minute to end the streak at 571 minutes.
Brazil, however, did not have to wait long for an equaliser with Manchester United’s Andreas Pereira jinking his way past four defenders to level the match three minutes later.
Pereira had only come on as a 65th minute substitute for a visibly incensed Gabriel Boschilia, who calmed down when his teammate stroked the ball past Rajkovic’s outstretched left hand.
Rajkovic produced another world class save late in extra time before his team mates swept down field and Maksimovic was left one-one-one with Jean and he calmly slotted home to end Brazil’s hopes of a sixth world title.
Mali beat Senegal 3-1 to take third
Adama Traore produced two sensational long-range strikes to help Mali beat 10-man Senegal 3-1 and clinch the third place at FIFA’s Under-20 World Cup at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
Traore had brought his side back into the game after Senegal’s Ibrahima Wadji had opened the scoring in the 64th minute, when his left footed free-kick curled away from Ibrahima Sy in the 74th.
Traore then blasted a right foot shot past Sy, who had saved a 76th minute penalty from Falaye Sacko, to give his side the lead with less than seven minutes remaining.
Sacko’s day got worse when he handled the ball in the area about two minutes after Traore’s second goal, though Djigui Diarra pulled off a superb double save when he stopped the Malick Niang spot kick and the follow-up attempt.
Mali completed the victory when Diadie Samassekou caught Senegal’s’ defence napping at a free-kick to slot home the third in added time.
Senegal defender Moussa Ba had been sent off in the final minute of the first half by Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha for his second yellow card.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2015.
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