England outclass Spain to lift maiden U-17 title
kolkata — England rallied brilliantly to wipe out a double-goal deficit and steamroll Spain 5-2 in a thrilling final to annex their maiden Fifa U-17 World Cup title here on Saturday.
Phillip Foden — later adjudged the golden ball winner for his superb display — struck a brace (69th and 88th minutes), and Rhian Brewster (44th), Morgan Gibbs-White (58th) and Marc Guehi (84th) scored one apiece for England who continued their dream run of 2017, having earlier clinched the U-20 World Cup and the U-19 Euro championships.
For Spain, Sergio Gomez scored both goals (10th, 31st), before a capacity crowd of more than 66,000, who cheered on both teams, making it a cracker of an atmosphere at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
Spain were clinical in the first half, playing a beautiful attacking game, while allowing England 58 per cent of the possession.
But Steve Cooper’s charges were all over their opponents after the breather, with Foden pulling the strings by operating from the right. He and Callum Hudson-Odoi struck up a fine combination from the right, that pulverized the Spanish defence in the second session. KOLKATA — The Fifa U-17 World Cup in India on Saturay became the most attended in the history of the tournament.
After Brazil fought Mali in the third-place clash ahead of the mega-final between England and Spain, the total number of spectators who turned up at the six host venues across the country went past the earlier record attendance of 1,230,976 set in the first edition of the tournament in China, 1985.
With 56,432 people watching
Spain took an early lead through a combined move. From left, skipper Abel Ruiz fed Juan Miran, who crossed for Cesar Gelabert. The Real Madrid forward headed down, and Gomez tapped in from close.
La Rojita doubled the margin, with the Barcelona forward striking again. Ruiz sent a deep cross from the right, Gomez controlled the ball well, and then let go a rasping left footer on the bounce into the far corner of the net.
Down 0-2, England boys made a determined bit to come back into the game, and came close to scoring twice. the game at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, the total attendance of the World Cup reached 1,280,459. A figure of 6,949 needed to be breached before the start of the tie to break the record.
The 2011 edition in Mexico had seen a turnout of 1,002,314 spectators, becoming the third to boast a total attendance in excess of a million. The attendance for matches had breached the million mark in the last Round of 16 match on October 18. —
First, Foden headed wide, and then Odoi fired a right footer from 20 yards, that swerved and crashed into the base of the far post.
England, however, kept up the momentum, and reduced the margin close to half.
Steven Sessegnon crossed from the right into the six yard box, and Brewster headed home. The England surge continued, and they earned a free kick right outside the penalty area in the first half stoppage time, but Brewster’s swerving shot was tipped over by Fernandez. At half time, Spain led 2-1.
Crossing over, England upped
Victory for England players against Spain in
U-17 World Cup the ante further, and in the 53rd minute, Foden’s low shot was deflected away for a corner by the Spain goalkeeper, but England did not have to wait for more than five minutes to draw level.
The fabulous Foden essayed a lovely pass to Sessegnon, who sent in a ground pass and Gibbs-White finished.
The Spanish seemed rudderless before the English onslaught, and midway into the session, HudsonOdoi sprinted down the left, essaying a delicate cross into the middle, and Foden stabbed home. England now led 3-2, and there were wild cries of “Foden, Foden” in the stands with many waving the St Georges Cross.
Six minutes from regulation time, England skipper Joel Latibeaudiere headed down a free kick, and Guehi put the ball in. The celebrations in the English camp became louder. —