Brazil beat Spain in World Youth Championship

LAGOS, 6th April 6 '99 -

Two first half goals from Barcelona reserve striker Gabriel Garcia helped Spain beat Brazil 2-0 in the World Youth Championship on Monday. The United States beat England 1-0 while Mali sprung a major shock as they scored in the last minute to overcome 1997 runners-up Uruguay 2-1 on an excellent day for African teams. Zambia and Cameroon both came from behind to beat Honduras and Japan respectively. Garcia was one of five players to score twice on a day which went well for the Nigerian organisers. Pitches and stadia were in good condition and decent-sized crowds watched most games. Garcia put Spain in command with well-taken goals in the 16th and 33rd minute. Brazil's best player was goalkeeper Fabio who pulled off a string of excellent saves to keep the score respectable. Spanish goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia barely had a save to make. Brazil coach Joao Carlos da Costa, whose squad was picked by predeccesor Toninho Barroso before his sudden resignation, admitted: "We lacked the qualities to win. We obviously will have to work harder." Mali's hero was Mahamadou Dissa who stunned the Uruguayans when he cut in from the left, wrong-footed his marker with a dummy and then cheekily flicked the ball over goalkeeper Hector Carini in the 89th minute. The team from the poverty-stricken Sahara nation had taken a 51st minute lead through Abdoulaye Camara in the group D game in Enugu before Ernesto Chevanton equalised in the 65th. "We made mistakes and we will correct them for the next game," said Uruguay coach Victor Pua. The unlikely pairing of Zambia and Honduras provided the match of the tournament so far, with two spectacular long-range efforts from Bernard Makufi either side of halftime propelling Zambia to a 4-3 to win in a group F game in Calabar. Spain later went top of group F after outclassing Brazil. Cameroon also came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a group E match in Kano, Gaspard Komol scoring both their goals after Naohiro Takajara had put the Asians ahead. Dan Califf's 10th minute goal was enough to give the United States a 1-0 win over England in a group E match in Kano while Portugal's Pedro Simao scored twice as the 1991 champions beat South Korea in a group D match in Enugu. The tournament continues Wednesday with six games. The matches are Nigeria v Germany and Costa Rica v Paraguay (group A in Lagos,), Ghana v Argentina and Croatia v Kazakhstan (group B in Kaduna), and Australia v Mexico and Ireland v Saudi Arabia (group C in Ibadan).