Preview: Pride and consolation would be at stake in a clash of Latin American skill and African speed and raw power as Brazil take on Mali in the third place play-off of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. The match at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan promises to be high on entertainment with two of the most attacking sides of the tournament coming face to face, albeit after crashing out of the title race. But while Brazil would strive to salvage some pride after the English disaster, a victory would come as a consolation for Mali’s spectacular display over the past three weeks. The free-flowing game that the two losing semi-finalists have dished out so far is likely to fill the hearts of the fans with hope for an encore, providing the perfect build-up for the summit duel between England and Spain at the same venue later in the evening. Brazil’s rich football history, inclusive of three crowns in this age-group World Cup, is all too well-known. But Mali also are no nine-day wonders at this level. During three previous appearances, the West African nation came up with their best performance in 2015, finishing runners-up to champions Nigeria. In the current edition, they started with a loss to Paraguay but then raised their game to outsmart Turkey and New Zealand in the group games, before crushing Iraq 5-1 in the round of 16 and pipping Ghana 2-1 in the quarters. However, Mali’s bid to play back to back finals ended in a 1-3 defeat to European powerhouse Spain in the semi-final. South American giants Brazil, in contrast, won all their group fixtures, beginning with a 2-1 morale-boosting triumph over Spain. The Samba magicians blanked Honduras 3-0 in the pre-quarters and rallied back after being a goal down to show Germany the door (2-1) in the quarter-final. But their party ended on Wednesday with a 1-3 loss to England in a last four battle. Brazil’s game — centred around neat passing and beautiful build-ups, culminating in penetrating attacks — is heavily dependent on the success of forwards Paulinho and Lincoln and playmaker Alan, with the two wing backs Wesley and Weverson moving up constantly to keep the supply line going. However, the jogo bonito (beautiful game) had hit a wall against England, who policed Paulinho, Lincoln and Alan to submission and took control of the midfield. This curbed the Brazilians’ natural flair, but they still had their chances, and coach Carlos Amadeu was left ruing the missed opportunities. “We had our opportunities in the first half. We played a good game but we could not score all goals today. That was our problem,” said coach Amadeu after the match. Amadeu would be hoping for better finishing from his charges but has to be wary about the strongly built African side’s hard tackles and quick-silver moves. Under coach Jonas Komla, Mali have impressed with their lightning raids, and ability to switch into the attack mode from a defensive position with two or three touches. Statistically, they are the best attacking side with 157 attempts at the opponents’ goal, and Brazilian shot-stopper Gabriel Brazao, who heads the list of top saves (19), could have his hands full. Mali’s lethal striker Lassana N’diaye is in contention for the golden boot with six goals, the same as Spaniard Abel Ruiz and one less than the leader Englishman Rhian Brewster. The Brazilian defenders also have to keep an eye on Hadji Drame for his scoring prowess, while attacking midfielder Djemoussa Traore will be crucial to Komla’s scheme of things. Another heartening development for the Africans is the return of their central midfielder Mohamad Camara, who had to sit out the Spain match due to double booking. Komla sounded positive. “We started with 24 teams and now we are among the best four in the world. So it doesn’t disappoint us much. We’ll try our best to claim the number three spot from Brazil,” he said. Head-to-head, the two sides have met only once in the tourney, but the group match finished goalless. That was way back in 1999, and one of the teams have to be victors in Saturday’s tie. Squads: Mali: Alkalifa Coulibaly, Boubacar Haidara, Djemoussa Traore, Fode Konate, Mamadi Fofana, Mohamed Camara, Hadji Drame, Abdoulaye Dabo, Seme Camara, Salam Giddou, Mamadou Traore, Mahamane Toure, Soumaila Doumbia, Siaka Sidibe, Abdoulaye Diaby, Youssouf Koita, Mamadou Samake, Ibrahim Kane, Lassana N’Diaye, Cheick Oumar Doucoure and Massire Gassama. Brazil: Gabriel Brazao, Lucas Alexandre, Yuri Sena; Wesley, Luan Candido, Weverson, Lucas Halter, Matheus Stockl, Rodrigo Guth and Vitor Eduardo; Alanzinho, Marcos Antonio, Rodrigo Nestor, Victor Bobsin, Victor Yan and Vitinho; Brenner, Lincoln, Paulinho and Yuri Alberto. With inputs from IANS
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 3rd-place play-off, Brazil vs Mali, Football Match Result: Brazil beat Mali to finish 3rd
Catch all the live coverage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 3rd-place play-off match between Brazil and Mali.
 "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 3rd-place play-off, Brazil vs Mali, Football Match Result: Brazil beat Mali to finish 3rd")
A standing ovation for @CBF_Futebol at the VYBK Stadium as they leave the stadium for the last time #BRAvMLI #FIFAU17WC pic.twitter.com/aX1zPovHRl
— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) October 28, 2017
FT | #FIFAU17WC
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) October 28, 2017
PLAY-OFF FOR THIRD PLACE
🇧🇷Brazil 2-0 Mali🇲🇱
Alan & Yuri Alberto on target to clinch third for the South American champions pic.twitter.com/uPbXVVruuL
FT. Brazil 2-0 Mali
Mali were clearly the better side when it came to creating chances tonight. Just look at the attempts by both teams. Mali had a whopping 27 tries at goal compared to just 8 from Brazil. But Brazil were clinical in front of goal and capitalised on some shocking defensive errors from Mali.
Fulltime. Brazil 2-0 Mali
Brazil claim third place in the World Cup. It wasn’t their classy attacking talent that won them the game today, but a solid defensive display. They had a bit of fortune with the first goal, but full marks to their defensive performance. Mali played their heart out, but in the end ran out of class up front. Fine campaign for both these sides. The crowd gives both teams a big ovation as Brazil head towards the exit for the final time in India.
88` GOAL! Yuri Alberto scores!
Brazil catch Mali who committed too many men forward in search of an equaliser. Substitute Yuri Alberto with acres of space finishes comfortably. The crowd rises and Brazil have the third place in their pocket. Not a vintage performance from them, but the South Americans will end the tournament on a high.
86` Brazil 1-0 Mali
The crowd has shifted loyalties. Every Mali endeavour into the Brazilian box is met with huge cheers. Mali are throwing the kitchen sink at Brazil who will have to be careful here.
85` Brazil 1-0 Mali
The crowd is on their feet as Mali look to get their equaliser. Halter slices the ball in his own penalty box and Traore pounces on the loose ball. The Mali No 3 gets his shot away but it bounces past the post.
82` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Brilliant defending from Lucas Halter to deny Camara a goal. The ball bounces kindly for Camara who chests it, but before he can boot it at goal, Lucas Halter hooks it away from the Mali player.
77` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Wesley is stretchered off the pitch after a stamp on his ankle by a Mali player. The Brazil right-back hobbles on the touchline after receiving treatment even as Mali attempt another long-range effort on goal.
72` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Mali make an attacking change as the defender Mamadou Samake is taken off the pitch for Cheick Oumar Doucoure.
68` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Mali have been testing Brazao from distance throughout the match. Camara with an out-swinging effort which curls just past the upright.
64` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Mali get very close to getting their equalise there. Brazao has to be at full stretch to palm away N’Diaye’s dipping header away from goal.
62` Brazil 1-0 Mali
Rodrigo Nestor replaces the goalscorer Alan as Brazil look to exert more influence the game.
55` GOAL! Alan scores! Brazil 1-0 Mali
What a howler form Youssouf Koita, the Mali goalkeeper who lets a tame effort from Alan escape his grasp and enter the net. It’s been that sort of game. It needed a moment of brilliance or a mistake to break the deadlock and the mistake has come from Mali goalkeeper.
Huge roar from Kolkata crowd to remind that there are around 50000 people in the stands here. Brazil lead, will the floodgates open now for the South American champions?
54` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Victor Bobsin has been taken off for the second game running. Rodrigo Guth replaces him as Brazil look to get more of the control in this match. It’s been a dull affair so far, Mali had the better chances in the game, but neither goalkeeper has had to make a big save so far.
51` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazil make the first change of the match as the unimpressive Victor Bobsin is replaced by Rodrigo Guth who makes his first appearance in the tournament.
47` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Mali resume where they left off in the first half as they carve open the Brazil defence with relative ease. Hadji Drame whips one in but N’Diaye, at full-stretch, can’t get his boot on the ball.
46` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazil need to up their game in the second half especially Victor Bobsin and Alan in midfield.
HT | #FIFAU17WC
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) October 28, 2017
PLAY-OFF FOR THIRD PLACE
🇧🇷Brazil 0-0 Mali🇲🇱
The African champions have been on top throughout but have failed to capitalise pic.twitter.com/sWU2mtBhj8
Halftime! Brazil 0-0 Mali
Goalless at half-time in Kolkata. Brazil have looked pedestrian when compared to their previous matches at the tournament. Mali have been very good in closing down the Brazilian players. Even though Brazil have a slight advantage in terms of possession, they are yet to get a shot on target. Mali, meanwhile, have had 10 attempts on goal with 3 on target. Carlos Amadeu will need to rouse his players during his halftime speech and start playing like they did in their previous matches.
43` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazao almost gifts Mali the lead as he fails to collect another Mali long-range effort cleanly. N’Diaye rushes in to pounce on the loose ball but Brazao is quicker and he collects it on the second attempt.
41` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Salam Jiddou stings the palms of Brazao with a long-range effort. The Kolkata crowd, who had gone glum, suddenly come alive. The game needs more of these moments.
39` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Sloppy play from Victor Bobsin allows Salam to have a go at the Brazilian goal. No pace or direction in that back pass from Bobsin and Salam lets one fly from the edge of the box. However, Brazao is able to punch it behind for a corner.
33` Brazil 0-0 Mali
The quality of passing from Brazil has been really poor today. Players like Alan and Victor Bobsin, who have been excellent throughout the tournament, have been guilty of giving away the ball cheaply allowing Mali to take advantage of Brazil’s sloppy passing.
29` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Mali are looking very dangerous on the attack as Brazil are caught napping again. Hadji Drame gets on the end of a long ball and whips in an inviting first-time cross. However, N’Diaye is a moment too late and the ball flashes across the face of the goal.
25` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Now it’s Mohamed Camara who tries his luck from a distance. The ball is dipping and curling away from Brazao who dives in to try and get a palm on it. Thankfully for Brazil, the ball just about goes past the post. In Brazao’s defence, the youngster would have saved it had the ball had been curling in.
20` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Mali get a free-kick in front of the goal. Haidara tries his luck from the set-piece. Gabriel Brazao is unable to catch the curling ball and it hits the post before going behind for a corner. Uncharacteristic error from the Brazilian custodian who has been one of the best keepers in the tournament so far.
16` Brazil 0-0 Mali
A wayward shot from Weverson after some good work from Lincoln and Paulinho. The Brazilian No 9 puts in a cross towards Paulinho who is arriving at the far post. The ball bounces awkwardly in front of him allowing a Mali defender to close in on him. He passes it to Weverson on the edge of the box but the full-back’s shot is off-target.
15` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Mali have been on top in the opening exchanges. Their closing down is disrupting the Brazilian play and forcing them to sit back and defend.
13` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Absolutely stunning!
This is what the approach to the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan will look like for the FIFa U17 final! pic.twitter.com/y0jGMNhGUH
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) October 28, 2017
8` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazil play out a short corner. Bobsin attempts a cross from the edge of the box which is not cleared well by the Mali defence. Lincoln, with his back to goal, juggles the ball and attempts an overhead kick but there’s no power in the shot and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
6` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazil have named a full-strength side against and they are not taking this one lightly, Mali also have their best ones out today. Both teams look motivated to end their World Cup campaign on a high and have made a bright start to proceedings here at the Vivekanand Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The stadium is not up to full capacity yet, but those who are in, are supporting Brazil.
4` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Both teams with very good chance to score. Alan finds himself inside the Mali box unmarked but he tries to dribble past Haidara but the Mali defender is able to win the ball. On the counter, N’Diaye fails to get on the end of a low cross from the left. End-to-end stuff here.
2` Brazil 0-0 Mali
Brazil with the first chance of the game as Paulinho and Wesly combine well on the right. Wesley crosses in for Lincoln but the ball is headed away. At the other end, Mali get a chance of their own as Traore puts in a cross which is headed away.
1` Brazil vs Mali
Lassana N’Diaye gets the game underway and we’re off in the 3rd-place play-off match.
Overcast conditions at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan as we’re 5 minutes away from kick-off.
Fans sporting colours of India, Spain, England and Mohun Bagan are streaming into the Salt Lake Stadium.
WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match
Brock Lesnar's return headlines Night Two of WWE Summerslam Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to stay Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
More Impact ShortsTop Shows
