ABU DHABI, 20 December 2003 — A late goal from substitute Fernandinho sealed a fourth World (under-20) Football Championship title for Brazil with a 1-0 win over 10-man Spain here yesterday. Fernandinho, brought on as a substitute after 70 minutes of stalemate, finished off a corner by Daniel Alves with a header three minutes from the final whistle.
The Spaniards had been a man down for virtually the whole match after Real Betis midfielder Juan Alberto Andreu ‘Melli’ was sent off after just five minutes’ play.
Brazil’s goal hero Fernandinho was also sent off by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti in stoppage time, but it was already too late for the Spanish who had been fighting a battle with their numerical inferiority.
The game was only three minutes old when Spanish captain Melli received his marching orders from Italian referee Roberto Rosetti for pulling back Nilmar.
Jose Ufarte’s side could also have been a goal down three minutes later when Brazilian defender Daniel unleashed a wonderful volley but Riesgo saved well. Barcelona star Sergio Garcia produced Spain’s first effort on target after 12 minutes but it was the Brazilians who came closest to scoring on 28 minutes when captain Adailton hit the bar with a header.
Spain were lucky not to be down to nine men ten minutes before half-time when Riesgo made a reckless tackle outside the area but the goalkeeper only saw yellow.
Vitolo came close for Spain with a long-range shot three minutes after the restart while Sergio Garcia, who was a constant thorn in the South Americans’ defense, had a shot well saved on 51 minutes.
Garcia should have put his side ahead on the hour mark but Adriano cleared the danger with a last-gasp tackle. The Europeans continued to threaten but just as the game looked like it would be going into extra time substitute Fernandinho rose to head home from a corner.
There was still time for Spanish substitute Manu to miss a golden chance to equalize after great buildup work from Garcia and for Fernandinho to receive his marching orders in stoppage time.
The South Americans reclaimed the title which they also won in Mexico in 1983, the Soviet Union in 1985 and Australia in 1993. This puts them equal on titles with Argentina who were earlier defeated 2-1 in the third-place playoff by Colombia. Spain’s only title came in 1999.
Goals in either half from Erwin Carrillo and Jaime Castrillon sealed third spot for Colombia after Osmar Ferreyra had leveled for Argentina on the stroke of half time.
It is the best result ever for the Colombians and provided further disappointment for Argentina who have never before reached the world youth semi-final without booking a spot in the final.
Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda had warned that his side would be sticking with their attacking formula, spearheaded by Carrillo and Edixon Perea, which had served them so well until now.
“Coming into the finals we did not expect to come this far, honestly,” said Rueda. “But as we began to win and play well, we began to dream and here we are.”
And Carrillo, who scored the golden goal in their last-16 win over Ireland, opened their account with just his second goal of the championships after 16 minutes with a header off a Harrison Otalvaro centre.
Argentina grabbed a timely equalizer just on the half-time whistle from an excellent Ferreyra free kick from the right.
But Colombia sealed victory in the 62nd minute when Castrillo netted following good work from Edixon Perea and Otalvaro in the penalty area.
Argentina missed a chance to draw level again after 76 minutes when a Franco Cangele effort was cleared by Colombia keeper Hector Landazuri with a Ferreyra attempt two minutes later also failing to find the target.
Ferdinand Banned
Meanwhile, Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has been banned for eight months and fined £50,000 after being found guilty of missing a drugs test.
The decision, taken by an independent commission yesterday after a two-day hearing, means the England defender, who signed for United from West Ham in a British record deal of £30 million in July 2002, will miss the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.
He will also miss United’s challenge in the Premiership and the Champions League. The ban, which is subject to appeal, begins on Jan. 12 next year.
