The second session saw Brazil taking more initiatives, and close to the hour mark, Paulinho set up Brenenr, who muffed up the chance. Koita himself seemed stunned, and wept inconsolably after the game was over.Salam Jiddou was once off-target, while on another Brazao tipped over his right footer for a corner. The Brazil shotstopper had a very good game, saving his teams downfall on a number of occasion. Brazao played consistently well throughout the tournament, and is one of the strong contenders of the golden gloves award.
At the other end, Boubacar Haidara took a firm shot, which was punched out of harms way by Brazil custodian Gabriel Brazao.Mali, however, had seemed much more thrustful in the first half, carrying out a number of fast raids into the opponent citadel.Mali came close to scoring late in the second session, but Mahamane Toures header off Konates cross was not on target. In contrast, three-time champions Brazil looked lacklustre and lacking in motivation, despite having more possession.After a goalless first half, Alan scored in the 55th minute, before substitute Yuri Alberto widened the margin two minutes from the end of regulation time of the third-fourth play-off watched by more than 56,000 spectators at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan. The likes of Alan and Marcos Antonio tried to cut through the Mali defence, but could not make much headway.A little later, Fode Konate crossed for Lassana NDiaye, but Brazao saved the situation.Midway into the second half, Brazao looked dehydrated and had to receive treatment on the ground.
In the very next minute, Salam Jiddous right-footer missed the target after Hadji Drame had done the spadework.This is the second time the Selecao boys have finished third after the inaugural edition in 1985 in China. Jiddou, always active, later set up Mohamed Camara, but the latter missed the mark. The midfielder snatched the ball from Mammadou Samake and set off on a solo run, before unleashing a rasping grounder from Flame-retardant heat resistant gloves the top of the box. Koita was in line to block the shot, but failed to hold on to the ball, which went in between his legs, to the utter disbelief of the Mali reserve bench. Paulinho set up Marcos Antonio who shot wide. A Mali defender standing close by failed to read the situation and Koita was helpless.Alberto, who replaced Lincoln in the in the 74th minute, then made the scoreline 2-0 by latching on to a pass from Brenner inside the box and then let go a right footer virtually unchallenged. The action then shifted to the other end, as Hadji Drame and Mohammad Camaras efforts were saved by Brazao.Mali got some more scoring opportunities, but somehow failed to finish.Alan broke the deadlock by capitalising on an incredible howler by Mali goalkeeper Youssouf Koita.The only clear chance that Brazil got in the first half was in the 19th minute when Lincoln dribbled past a few defenders to chip the ball for the hardworking Paulinho inside the box
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