Five-star Brazil face Serbia in U-20 final

WELLINGTON: Five-time champions Brazil trounced Senegal 5-0 on Wednesday to set up a FIFA Under-20 World Cup final against Serbia, who edged past Mali 2-1 with a late winner.

Brazil outclassed Mali to reach the decider of the tournament in Auckland on Saturday, giving them the chance to equal arch-rival Argentina’s record of six youth trophies. Serbia have not reached the final since 1987 and had to battle past Mali team in a fast-paced match. It was an emphatic return to form for Brazil, whose coach Rogerio Micale admitted they were lucky to stay in the tournament after advancing on penalties following a 0-0 draws.

The Samba Kings turned on the style with four first-half goals, then cruised home against a 10-man Senegal with Marcos Guilherme scoring his second of the match 12 minutes from time.

While delighted to rediscover their attacking prowess, Brazil have also not conceded a goal in four matches and will go into Saturday’s final as heavy favourites to take the title. They took just four minutes to impose themselves against Senegal, when defender Andelinou Correa scored an unlucky own goal trying to flick Joao Pedro’s cross.

Brazil doubled their advantage three minutes later when Gabriel Jesus made a run from the half-way line then fed the ball through for Guilherme’s point-blank shot. Boschilia made it three on 19 minutes. Senegal’s woes continued when Jorge waltzed through their defence for a fourth. Guilherme completed the rout when he latched onto a Boschilia cross late in the second half.

Serbia cruised to a 2-0 win over Mali in the group stages but were not given an easy ride in semi-final, despite Andrija Zivkovic putting them ahead in the fourth minute.

Zivkovic outpaced the Mali defence before calmly slotting past the keeper. Youssouf Kone equalised for the Africans five minutes from half time with a screaming left-foot shot from long range that caught Serbia totally unprepared. Ivan Saponjic heading the winner in the 101st minute.