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PICS: How England reigned over Spain in U-17 World Cup final

October 29, 2017 11:19 IST

Coach Steve Cooper's team scores five goals without reply after going down 2-0 within 31 minutes.

IMAGE: England’s players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Spain in the final of the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, in Kolkata, on Saturday. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden struck twice as England came from behind to thrash European champions Spain 5-2 and clinch their maiden Under-17 World Cup title, in Kolkata, on Saturday.

England, who lost the Under-17 European Championship final to Spain on penalties in May, added to their success at the youth level this year following victories in the Under-20 World Cup and Under-19 European Championship.

IMAGE: Rhian Brewster (No.9) scores England’s first goal. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

It was a remarkable comeback for coach Steve Cooper's side in front of more than 60,000 spectators as they scored five goals without reply after going down 2-0 with 31 minutes gone.

After Morgan Gibbs-White nearly put England ahead early on, Spain took the lead as Barcelona's Sergio Gomez beat the off-side trap to tap in on 10 minutes.

He then struck his fourth of the tournament with a powerful shot from inside the box after the half hour mark.

IMAGE: Morgan Gibbs puts England on level terms with Spain, scoring their second goal. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

England hit back through Liverpool's Rhian Brewster, who headed in Steven Sessegnon's cross from the right close to half-time and levelled at 2-2 when Gibbs-White turned in another Sessegnon pass to finish a slick move on 58 minutes.

Foden put England ahead when he slotted in Callum Hudson-Odoi's searching ball before Marc Guehi ended Spain's hopes of a comeback by making it 4-2.

IMAGE: Phil Foden celebrates with teammates after scoring England’s fourth goal. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

City youngster Foden then scored his second on a brisk counter-attack to seal victory.

Striker Brewster, who scored hat-tricks against Brazil and the United States in the last two games, ended the event as the leading scorer with eight goals, while man of the match Foden was named the best player of the tournament.

It was the highest-scoring final in the history of Under-17 age-group tournament.

Earlier, midfielder Alan's fortuitous 55th-minute opener and substitute Yuri Alberto's late goal helped three-times champions Brazil overcome Mali 2-0 to finish third.

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