Rhian Brewster hat-trick sends England into U17 World Cup final
Rhian Brewster scored another hat-trick as England reached the FIFA U17 World Cup final with a 3-1 win against Brazil on Wednesday.
Having bagged a treble in the previous round, the Liverpool striker increased his tournament tally to seven – more than any other player – to send the Young Lions into the final against Spain this weekend.
Brewster opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the semi-final with his fifth goal since the competition in India got under way.
After Brazil had made the more assured start to the contest in Kolkata, the Reds youngster’s movement was pivotal to his finding the net.
Callum Hudson-Odoi sent in an excellent cross from the left and Brewster lost his markers to get to the ball first and convert at the second attempt when his initial effort was stopped.
The South Americans responded midway through the half, Wesley combining with Paulinho and ultimately bagging from close range when his teammate’s hit was spilled out.
But Brewster restored his side’s advantage six minutes before the interval.
Steven Sessegnon overlapped intelligently and delivered a cross that the Brazil goalkeeper could only touch along its path, providing the England No.9 with an opportunity that he dispatched exquisitely with cool control and an emphatic finish.
Steve Cooper’s charges were under pressure to keep the opposition at bay in the second period but did so successfully - and Brewster put the icing on the cake by completing his treble with a close-range shot late on.
Free video: Getting to know Rhian Brewster