Host Brazil will take on Mexico in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup after both teams went past their opponents in contrasting styles.
Mexico , seeking their third title, are through to the finals after defeating the Netherlands 4-3 on penalty shoot-out after both teams had tied-1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Their hero was goalkeeper Eduardo Garcia, who made three crucial saves in the shootout.
It was a relatively conservative start by both teams, with the opening 60 minutes offering few clear-cut goal-scoring chances. In the closing half-hour, the Oranje upped the tempo, pressuring Garcia and the Mexico defence.
Melayro Bogarde created the Dutch breakthrough in the 74th minute, but substitute Efrain Alvarez equalised five minutes later with an expertly-curled free-kick from 26 yards.
Alvarez began the penalty shoot-out with a Panenka attempt that the Dutch keeper Calvin Raatsie comfortably saved, but Garcia’s heroics spurred Mexico towards a chance to compete for their third U-17 world title.
Though Raatsie made two saves of his own in the shoot-out, he was out-dueled by Garcia, and the European champions fell one step short of their first U-17 World Cup final appearance.
Garcia denied Mohamed Taabouni, Jayden Braaf and Youri Regeer to secure a fourth appearance for the North American champions in the showpiece match.
Mexico have won the U-17 crown in 2005 and 2011 as well as finishing runners-up in 2013.
Brazil clawed back from a 0-2 defeat to beat France 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final match-up. A 89th minute strike from Lazaro gave the hosts a dramatic victory and a chance to win their fourth title.
The French, who have never made it even to the semi-finals before this year, stunned the Brazilians just seven minutes into the game when Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga put the ball pass the Brazilian keeper.
Claims of an offside was quickly denied by the VAR and the Brazilian defence were caught napping just five minutes later when Nathanael Mbuku doubled the lead for the French side.
Jolted into action, Brazil fought hard to reduce the deficit but found the dogged French defence and keeper Zinga standing firm.
But Brazil’s pressure finally paid off in the 62nd minute through a Kaio Jorge goal, his fourth in the tournament. In the 76th minute, Brazil deservingly found the equaliser through Veron.
Lazaro, who only came into the match as a substitute in the 71st minute chose the right time to score his first goal of the tournament, the 89th minute winner.
It was a disappointing end to French side, who had entertained with their free flowing style emphasized by their 6-1 hammering of Spain in the quarter-finals.
Brazil’s win over France was their seventh consecutive win at the championships, equaling a record they set two decades ago.
Brazil could become the second team ever to accomplish the feat of winning the title at home should they beat Mexico on Sunday. The only other team to have achieved that would be their final opponents Mexico, who beat Uruguay 2-0 for the title in 2011 at home.
The final between Brazil and Mexico, would be the second time the two sides would be clashing in the final since 2005. In that final, it was the Mexican who triumphed with an emphatic 3-0 win over Brazil.
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