England win the first U-17 World Cup title
England came from two
goals down to defeat European champions Spain 5-2 and win their first-ever FIFA
U-17 World Cup title in front of 66,684 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati
Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata, India, on Saturday.
In what was a pulsating
final contest at India 2017, Spain raced out to a two-goal lead through a brace
from Sergio Gomez. The Barcelona youngster opened the scoring just ten minutes
in, nodding home in front of England goalkeeper Curtis Anderson after Juan
Miranda’s cross from the left struck Cesar Gelabert and bounced goalwards.
Gomez’s second goal just after the half-hour mark was a fine strike from close
range, with Gelabert and captain Abel Ruiz involved in the build-up.
England 5:2 Spain highlights
England 5:2 Spain highlights
Undeterred, England
fought back to score five unanswered goals. They halved the deficit just before
half-time through Brewster’s tournament-leading eighth goal. The Liverpool
striker headed home Steven Sessegnon’s fine cross from the right.
Sessegnon’s willingness
to get forward and support the England attack drew them level just before the
hour mark, as his low cross found an unmarked Morgan Gibbs White to make it
2-2. The Young Lions then took the lead through Philip Foden’s second goal of
the tournament on 69 minutes, as he converted Callum Hudson-Odoi’s run and
cross.
India U17 team went down fighting against the Qatar U19 side
India U17 team went down fighting against the Qatar U19 side
Any hopes of a Spain
comeback ended on 84 minutes, as Marc Guehi finished off a Hudson-Odoi
free-kick for England’s fourth before Foden raced in on the counter-attack for
his second of the match in the late stages. England’s win follows the U-20’s
success at Korea Republic 2017 earlier this year.
