Paulinho of Brazil is challenged by Kim Chung Jin of Korea DPR during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 group D match at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi | Photo: Getty imagesKochi: The Brazilians kept coming wave after wave and finally broke the dogged resistance of the North Koreans in a Group D encounter of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
The tenacious Asians had done exceptionally well to keep the Brazilians goalless in the first half. But the Brazilian strike force of Lincoln and Paulinho scored for the second game running as the South Americans won 2-0 and booked a place in the round of 16.
Brazil went ahead through an opportunistic goal by Lincoln in the 56th. Weverson's free-kick from the edge of the box hit the wall and Lincoln headed home over a desperate North Korean goalkeeper Tae Song Sin.
Paulinho made it 2-0 in the 61st, scoring off a pass by Brenner.
Plucky defending
The North Koreans' game plan was to defend in numbers and they succeeded in the first half.
Lincoln was denied by Sin as early as the second minute after he had combined beautifully with Brenner.
Paulinho, who is a crowd favorite, shot wide in the 12th minute. The Brazilian No. 7 again made a dazzling move six minutes later, but his final touch let him down.
Predictably most of the action took place in the North Korean half, but still Brazil could not find the breakthrough. The Koreans were disciplined and organized, and never panicked against their fancied opponents.
Alan shot wide in the 41st as Brazil's frustration grew.
Whether the Koreans could find a way to keep the Brazilians at bay in the second half was the big question. The sheer firepower of the Selecao was too much to handle for them in the second period.
North Korea had a couple of fine chances towards the end of the contest, but Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao was equal to the challenge.
Brazil top the group with six points from two games. Spain are in second place with three points. Niger, who also have three points, are in third spot while North Korea are yet to open their account and are languishing at the bottom of the table.
Brazil meet Niger in their final group game in Goa on Friday. Spain clash with the North Koreans in Kochi on the same day.
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