Brazil claims fifth title

Published : Sep 01, 2011 00:00 IST

In the final, Brazil avenged the penalty shoot-out defeat they suffered against Portugal 20 years ago and erased the memory of their loss on penalties to Ghana in the Egypt 2009 final.

Brazil claimed their fifth FIFA under-20 World Cup crown beating Portugal 3-2 after extra-time in Bogota, the first time they have won the competition since 2003.

The FIFA under-20 World Cup in Colombia ended as it began, with rain teeming down in prelude to the match for third place at El Campin in Bogota.

And for the second time in the competition, following on from their fightback in the round of 16 against Cameroon, Mexico came from behind to beat France 3-1 and take third place on the podium, El Tri's best finish in the competition since 1977, when they ended runners-up. Les Bleuets did not go away too disappointed, however, having completed their best ever campaign in the competition, despite conceding 12 goals, the joint-worst defensive record alongside Costa Rica and Guatemala.

The battle for the bronze medal was followed by the tournament showpiece, in which Brazil claimed their fifth title in the category, avenging the penalty shoot-out defeat they suffered against Portugal 20 years ago and erasing the memory of their loss on penalties to Ghana in the Egypt 2009 final.

In the final Oscar put up an outstanding display for Brazil scoring a hat-trick. The best of it came right in the end when Oscar collected the ball wide on the right and sent it looping over Mika and into the back of the net, settling the dramatic final in spectacular style.

The number of goals scored in the final between Brazil and Portugal, the highest tally ever in a FIFA under-20 World Cup final one more than the previous highest number scored in the competition showpiece (at Tunisia 1977, Japan 1979, Australia 1981 and Nigeria 1999). Five is also the number of FIFA under-20 world titles A Seleçao have now won, one behind the tournament's most successful nation, Argentina.

Portugal captain Nuno Reis urged his team-mates on in unique style before the final kicked off. After shaking the hands of the Brazilian players, the Cercle Brugge player took up position behind them and proceeded to shake the hands of each and every member of his team, a bonding exercise that looked to have paid dividends until the South Americans edged the contest in extra time.

Earlier. the Portuguese keeper came within 19 minutes of eclipsing the tournament record of 634 minutes without conceding a goal, set by Brazil between 1985 and 1987. Oscar's deflected fifth-minute opener in Bogota was the fastest goal in the competition final since Barkero put Spain on the road to victory against Japan at Nigeria 1999.

The next championship will take place in Turkey in 2013.

Courtesy FIFA.com

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