By Michael SequeiraMargao, Oct 13 (PTI) Tournament favourites Brazil livedup to their billing as they scored a convincing 2-0 victoryover Niger to top Group D in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, heretoday.
The three-times champions, who enjoyed possession againsta spirited Niger outfit, scored through Lincoln (4th minute)and Brenner (34th).
Debutants Niger gave a good account of themselves andperformed better in the second half and had their share ofchances, but found the rival keeper Gabriel Brazao a hard nutto crack.
Brazil topped the group with nine points, while Spain,who beat DPR Korea at Kochi in the day's other match, finishedsecond with six points.
Brazil, Spain, Ghana, Colombia, Paraguay, Mali, Iran,Germany, France and England are the 10 teams that have made itto the Round of 16. The other six teams to qualify will bedecided tomorrow after the end of Group E and F leagueengagements.
Niger, who finished third with three points still have achance to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. DPRKorea finished last without a win.
Brazil once again enthralled the capacity Goan crowdswith their one-touch play and sublime skills, taking an earlylead in the fourth minute.
Midfielder Victor Bobsin, from the right, initiated themove and relayed the ball to Paulino, who ran down the flankand beat the rival defence with a low cross. Lincoln, who waslurking in the danger zone, deftly placed the ball into theback of the net.
The goal spurred Brazil and Lincoln could have scoredagain two minutes latter, but was unlucky to see his headerhit the bar.
Brazil kept on the pressure as they made forays deep intothe rival half and Niger keeper once again had to make adiving save from Marcos Antonio's shot from top of the boxmidway into the first half.
Niger, who played with five defenders, found it difficultto keep the marauding Brazilian attack at bay even as theyresorted to hard tackle and defender Dijbrilla Ibrahim wasshown a yellow card for a foul on Vitinho.
Brenner, who took a 20-yard free kick, directed the ballto the far corner of the net even as the rival keeper divedbut could not save his team from conceding its second goal.
PTI MCS AHAH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.