Brazil downs Spain 2-1 in front of  jubilant fans at JNI Stadium

The football-besotted Malayalees’ love for the mighty Brazilians has always been an open secret.

KOCHI:  The football-besotted Malayalees’ love for the mighty Brazilians has always been an open secret.  This was the flavour of the evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here on Saturday when the ‘Yellow Brigade’ overcame the challenge from Spain in a Group D fixture of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Goals from Lincoln and Paulinho secured the win for the South American football giants after Spain went ahead through an own goal by Brazilian defender Wesley.  Following their victory, the Brazilians earned a full three points. Moreover, they were quite impressed with the overwhelming support from the fans at a venue several thousand miles away from home.

The entire Brazilian squad thanked the supporters in the stands who had come to watch the game wearing the trademark yellow jerseys of Neymar Jr and Tiago Silva. Brazil coach Carlos Amadeu thanked the supporters for making them feel as if they were playing at home.“We have felt really welcome in India and particularly in Kerala and Kochi. From the moment we took the pitch to warm up, the crowd was supporting us. I want to congratulate the crowd and we wanted to give something back to them for their love,” said Amadeu. Amadeu also said the fact Kerala Blasters, the IPL home team,  also has a yellow team jersey might have worked to the Brazilians’ advantage. 

“We knew the local side was also playing in yellow shirts coincidentally,” he said. “We have felt like home here. I had come here for technical visits after the World Cup draw and had felt the synergy and empathy the people here have with Brazil,” Amadeu said. Winning what was perhaps the toughest fixture in the group stages of the U-17 World Cup, Brazil will be bustling with confidence going into the later stages of the tournament. With the home crowd fully behind them, they will be looking to make the most of their next game against DPR Korea on Tuesday.

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