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Brazil Scores Twice At The Death To Defeat Mexico 2-1 In U-17 World Cup Final

By Connor Fleming November 17, 2019
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This hurts for El Tri, but the incredible crowd in Brasília got what it wanted in the end.
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Mexico pushed Brazil to the brink in the final of Sunday's 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but late goals from Kaio Jorge and Lázaro sent a raucous crowd of over 15,000 into raptures in Brasília. Inspirational captain Eugenio Pizzuto had provided the assist on Bryan Gonzalez’s opener for El Tri in the 66th minute, but Brazil’s ferocious comeback began in the 84th with Kaio’s VAR-assisted penalty and ended — just before the match was headed straight to a shootout — with Lázaro’s stunning winner with only one minute remaining in stoppage time.

Despite the vibrant, canary yellow crowd roaring its nation on in search of a first World Cup title at this level since 2003, Mexico withstood a first half barrage from the Seleção. 

Gabriel Veron, a 17-year-old winger for Palmeiras, was at the center of most of it. 

He showcased his flair when creating a chance by brutally nutmegging his marker before narrowly firing wide.

However, Veron was guilty of missing Brazil’s best chance of the opening 45.

For Mexico, Texas native Santiago Muñoz carved out his nation’s best chance with some impressive footwork before Pizzuto’s final effort was deflected over. 

It finished scoreless at halftime in the Bezerrão with Brazil putting four shots on frame as compared to zero for Mexico. But Mexico stood tall to start the second half — exemplified by this crunching tackle from Rafa Martínez on Veron in the 60th minute. 

Six minutes after that, Bryan Gonzalez stunned the stadium with a downward header following a cross from Pizzuto.

With the clock drifting towards the final minutes of the 90, Mexico looked to have accomplished the improbable — a repeat of the nation’s glorious 2005 U-17 World Cup Final victory over Brazil, that one inspired by Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos. 

But then tragedy.

In the 84th minute, the VAR room instructed the referee to look at a challenge in the box that he'd missed. Jesús Gómez had gone through the legs of Veron after he’d already released the ball in the area, although the chance ultimately came to nothing.

The referee looked at the monitor and pointed to the spot.  

The resulting penalty was converted by Kaio.

Mexico was shattered. The Bezerrão wanted a winner. The rules of the tournament dictated that the match would go straight to penalties directly following the end of regular time, but the dreaded shootout was avoided when Lázaro calmly side-footed home a volley from Yan Couto’s cross.  

Brazil’s Veron won the Golden Ball while scoring three goals, Mexico’s Pizzuto earned the Bronze Ball and Brazil goalkeeper Matheus Donelli earned the Golden Glove. 

The victory is Brazil’s fourth at this age level. Only Nigeria — with five — has more. 

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