By Eniola Olatunji
Mexico on Saturday in Rabat Morocco snatched the Bronze medal of the world U17 female football tournament by default winning via penalty shootout 3-1 after the Losers’ game ended 1-1 at fulltime.
Brazil had opened scoring the through a lone strike by Midfielder and Flamingo of Brazil player, Vieira Kaylane in the 79th minute but Santos FC Forward, Evelin Bonifaco who came back to rescue the Brazilian defence under pressure made a grievous mistake scoring an own goal in added time of 90+6 minutes which pushed the match into penalty shootouts.
Mexico lost the first kick through V. Alvando while Ibarra; Mia Villalpando and Monroy Fernanda scored theirs in that order.
Only substitute Pusch scored the first kic for Brazil; Kaylane who stylishly scored the opening goal missed her kick; Maria Duke and D. Pereira who was brought in 90+8 minute obviously for action in the penalty kicks disappointed.
There were two yellow cards to Brazil and one to Mexico in the match; Brazil made 17-10 attempts at goal; had 4-13 free kicks that attracted a handsome 13-4 foul calls against them meaning Brazil was too physical in the game not playing the one touch Samba football the country was known for and the pressure made Brazil commit 5-9 corner kicks.
Mexico scored three goals; conceded 2 but had a wonderful three clean sheets. She lost to North Korea 0-2; beat Netherlands by a lone goal; piped Cameroon also by a lone goal and dismissed Paraguay by a lone goal in the round of 16 matches. She played goalless at full time with Italy and won 5-4 on penalties. That meant Mexico was a low scoring nation. She lost in the semifinal 0-1 to Netherland.
Brazil beat hosts Morocco 3-0; played 1-1 with Costa Rica; lost 3-4 to Italy; silenced the Chinese 0-3 in round of 16 Games; broke Canada 5-4 via penalties after a goalless full time at the quarters and lost 0-2 to North Korea in the semis.
Both teams met five times, four of which were world cup matches. Mexico won thrice, Brazil once and there was a draw. Of the ten goals scored in their encounters, Brazil supplied 7 goals.
At Peru 2005, on 29th September Mexico decision Netherlands 4-0, Mexico won their only title that year with a 3-0 win over Brazil in the final; at Group B 3rd match of 21st October 2009 Mexico won by a lone goal; on 1st November 2015 it was 1-1 and the last time they met in an International friendly of 24th June this 2025 Mexican girls ran away with a lone goal victory.
The grand finale between defending Champions North Korea and Netherland is a moment away at 8:30pm also in Rabat.
The 10th U17 women’s world cup finals will take place in Brazil from 24th June – 25th July 2027 with 32 teams from six continents playing at 8 cities.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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