England 3 Brazil 1: Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster’s hat-trick fires Three Lions to the U17 World Cup Final
Hotshot bagged his second successive treble to become the tournament's top goalscorer and take Steve Cooper's Three Lions to the verge of history
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RHIAN BREWSTER was the hat-trick hero AGAIN as England secured a spot in the Under-17 World Cup final after a stunning 3-1 win over Brazil.
The Liverpool forward bagged a treble for the second successive game to seal a showdown with either Spain or Mali on Saturday.
England made a dream start in front of a sold out crowd at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.
Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi floated in a cross from the left that was met by the in-step of Brewster's foot.
The Kop hitman, who claimed the matchball with three in the quarters against USA, had his first effort saved by goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao, but the teen calmly fired home the rebound with less than ten minutes on the clock.
But the lead would not last long as the South Americans drew level on 21 minutes when Wesley outmuscled Three Lions captain Joel Latibeaudiere to power home from eight yards.
Manchester City's Latibeaudiere almost nodded his side back into the lead shortly after as his header from a corner bounced into the ground and agonisingly over the bar.
Brenner then immediately wasted a chance from the resulting goalkick to turn the scoreline on its head.
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The Brazilian was sent clear of the defence with only keeper Curtis Anderson to beat, but he slid his effort wide of the post before Wesley came close with a long-ranger.
Despite the high stakes, the game was wide open and both sides pressed for another before the break.
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However, it would be England who regained the advantage through hot-shot Brewster, who took his tally to seven in five matches at the tournament by finishing from close-range after a deflected low cross.
Cooper's side began the second half brightly as Phil Foden's trickery to beat two defenders almost led to a third, but they were denied by a good stop.
Back came the Brazilians as sub Yuri Alberto burst through the English backline, but stopper Anderson stood up well to block his effort.
Lincoln then went close with a header as the Samba Boys began to ramp up the pressure in a desperate bid to salvage their World Cup dream.
But the English backline survived the pressure and would go on to have the final say with a fine move.
Foden was the man pulling the strings again in the middle and he drew a number of Brazilian defenders towards him before releasing Emile Smith-Rowe down the right of the area.
The Arsenal midfielder raced towards the byline before pulling the ball back across goal for Brewster to neatly slot home the historic strike.
That effort made him the tournament's top scorer with seven as he became only the second Englishman ever to get a hat-trick against Brazil - the first being Steven Gerrard's cousin Bobby Duncan.
Cooper's youngsters now have a magnificent opportunity to write their name into the history books by becoming the first England team to lift the U17 World Cup.
