KOCHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here was a sea of yellow on Saturday, and it could have been mistaken for the Maracana. And Brazil played on it like Kochi was exactly that hallowed turf in the Brazilian coastal city of Rio de Janeiro.
Spain started the game explosively, taking the lead inside five minutes. But the Brazil youngsters were a joy to watch and went a goal ahead by the time the referee blew for half-time, and refused to give up their advantage for the remainder of the game.
Lincoln, assigned the goalscoring duties for the Brazilians in the absence of Vinicius Jr, cancelled out Wesley's own goal in the 25th minute before Paulinho scored the decider just before the break - a goal created by midfielder Marcos Antonio with a defence-splitting pass.
The Brazilian midfielders ran the show - their No 10 Alan and No 8 Antonio orchestrating the game in the first-half as they raced to the lead. Spain had the better of the possession and chances after the interval, but saves from Gabriel Brazao ensured a victory for the South Americans.
Spain started the match on the frontfoot as Brazilian left-back Weverson had his hands full dealing with Valencia starlet Ferran Torres. The Spanish wideman fed his captain Abel Ruiz in the third minute, whose shot was palmed away by Brazao.
But the goalkeeper could do nothing as Torres' cross was turned into his own net by a sliding Wesley, who was under pressure from Mohamed Moukhliss. However, Brazil regained their composure and started to string passes together as the match progressed.
Lincoln almost equalised in the 18th minute but was adjudged offside. However, there was no raised flag in the 26th minute after Spanish forward Diego Pampin’s clearance inadvertently dropped for the Flamengo forward to slot the equaliser home.
Brazil kept up the pressure for the rest of the first-half, but had to wait until the added time to find the winner. Antonio played an exquisite ball between two Spanish defenders for Paulinho to loft the ball over the onrushing Spanish custodian Alvaro Fernandez.
Spain went in search for an equaliser after the break, but could not salvage any point from the Group D opener as efforts from Ruiz and Sergio Gomez were kept out by a brilliant Brazao, whom Brazil have to thank for a winning start in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.