Stunning free-kick downs Young Lions at U17 World Cup

An unstoppable Leandro free-kick proved to be the difference as England went down 1-0 to Brazil in their second FIFA Under-17s World Cup match.

After an even contest in Chile, the Young Lions were undone when the forward curled home from 25 yards midway through the second half, although the decision to award the foul was dubious at best.

Neil Dewsnip’s youngsters now head into their final game against table-toppers South Korea on Friday knowing that victory is a must if they are to finish in the top two of the group, although depending on other results they could also progress as one of the best third-placed sides.

With both nations chasing their first three points of the tournament, it was a tense start to proceedings in La Serena as neither side created an open inside the first ten minutes.

The first real moment of excitement arrived 12 minutes in, with England skipper Chrissy Willock losing possession as Luis Henrique latched onto a loose ball. The Brazilian striker then embarked on a run across the 18-yard line as he looked to pull the trigger, but the attack was ended courtesy of a brilliant Easah Suliman challenge to avert the danger.

It was almost a different story for the Aston Villa defender moments later, however, as lost the ball on halfway and Andrey was lightning quick as he drove forward towards the area only to drag a low drive wide of the far post.

England began to improve their ball retention as the front four of Willock, Marcus Edwards, Kazaiah Sterling and Ike Ugbo began to see more of the ball, but it was midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold who looked to have carved open an opportunity for the Young Lions. 

The Liverpool youngster showed good skill as he went past two players before his threaded pass split the Brazilain backline, but the clean-through Ike Ugbo had set off a split-second too soon as the attack was cut short by the assistant’s offside flag.

Ike Ugbo challenges Brazil's Ronaldo in the early stages in La Serena

Samba Boys midfielder Andrey then gave a glimpse of the South Americans' desperation to win as he threw himself to the floor inside the area under pressure from Suliman, but luckily for Dewsnip’s men the referee spotted the simulation and duly produced the game’s first yellow card. 

The confidence seemed to be growing throughout our Young Lions as we neared the half way stage as Willock won applause from the crowd after a mazy dribble past three defenders.

Edwards then picked up the ball and fed Ugbo behind the defence, but the Chelsea striker’s effort was smothered by keeper Juliano as the first 45 minutes ended goalless.

The second period began in lightning fashion as England roared out of the blocks, with Sterling coming close to an opener inside a minute of the restart after his cut back and left-footed shot whizzed inches over the crossbar.

The pressing of the forwards and midfield was much more evident as they refused to give Brazil any time on the ball, harrying them at every opportunity. 

And Sterling’s excellent work in doing just that saw him presented with another opportunity to break the deadlock on 49 minutes. He chased down the left back and forced him into playing the ball straight to James Yates. 

Kaziah Sterling runs at the Brazilian defence as England searched for an equaliser

The Everton full-back, deep inside the opposition half, then slipped a pass through for Sterling to pull the trigger, but Juliano got down well at his near post to deny the Spurs man.

Yates and Sterling combined again as the pressure continued to grow in England’s favour, the defender’s floating cross met by the latter’s head, but once again the keeper came to Brazil's rescue.

The fluidity of his side’s play will no doubt have pleased Dewsnip, but his side received a reminder of Brazil’s threat when Arthur almost finished off an attack by rifling the ball towards the top corner from 18 yards, but luckily for shotstopper Alfie Whiteman it sailed over the bar.

Then the goal arrived, and what an impressive strike it was. Sterling was harshly adjudged to have fouled 25 yards out, but the lethal Leandro stepped up for the set-piece, and he delicately curled the ball over the wall and into the net off the inside of the post with 67 minutes on the clock.

Dewsnip responded by freshening up his attack as play entered the final 20 minutes, introducing Stephy Mavididi and Kaylen Hinds, the goalscorer in the draw with Guinea, from the bench. Aston Villa forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy followed shortly after as the revamped frontline looked to claw the Young Lions level. 

The powerful Mavididi appeared to have created an opening for himself as he tore past Ronaldo down the right of the area only to be sent sprawling by the struggling defender right on the line of the penalty area, the official issuing a card before Brazil cleared the danger from the kick.

Despite a late bout of pressure from England, they were unable to breach the Brazilian defence before the whistle as attentions now turn to Friday’s crunch clash with South Korea, who picked up their second victory later in the evening with a late 1-0 win over Guinea, who also have a point to their name.

Brazil (4-3-3): 1 Juliano; 2 Kleber, 3 Ronaldo, 14 Eder Militao, 6 Rogerio; 8 Andrey, 5 Liziero, 11 Lincoln (Captain); 19 Arthur, 9 Luis Henrique, 7 Leandro

Subs: 16 Guilherme for Liziero 75, 20 Eron for Luis Henrique 82, 18 Matheuzinho for Leandro

Subs not used: 21 Gabriel Batista, 12 Filipe, 4 Leo Santos, 13 Dodo, 15 Ze Marcos

Bookings: Andrey 27, Ronaldo 80

Goals: Leandro 67

Head coach: Carlos Nascimento

England (4-2-3-1): 21 Alfie Whiteman (Tottenham); 2 James Yates (Everton), 6 Ro-Shaun Williams (Manchester United), 15 Easah Suliman (Aston Villa), 3 Jay DaSilva (Chelsea); 18 Herbie Kane (Liverpool), 14 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool); 19 Ike Ugbo (Chelsea), 10 Marcus Edwards (Tottenham), 11 Chrissy Willock (Arsenal, captain); 17 Kazaiah Sterling (Tottenham) 

Subs: 9 Kaylen Hinds (Arsenal) for Edwards 71, 16 Stephy Mavididi (Arsenal) for Sterling 71, 20 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa) for Willock 80

Subs not used: 1 Paul Woolston (Newcastle United), 13 Will Huffer (Leeds United), 4 Tom Davies (Everton), 5 Danny Collinge (Stuttgart), 7 Will Patching (Manchester City), 8 Marcus Wood (Manchester City), 12 Cameron Humphreys (Manchester City)

Bookings: Sterling 66

Goals:

Head coach: Neil Dewsnip