adminNEMANJA Maksimovic scored an 118th minute goal on the counter attack to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over Brazil in extra time in the under-20 World Cup final at North Harbour Stadium yesterday. 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.
In the earlier match for third place, Adama Traore produced two sensational long-range strikes to help Mali beat 10-man Senegal 3-1.
Heavy rain and strong cold winds have pounded New Zealand for the past three days and while fans were soaked during the earlier match for third place, the rain had stopped by the time the sold-out final kicked off.
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 an visibly incensed 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 teammates 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. — Reuters
Online Reporter