Weifang Cup final to feature Desportivo Brasil vs China U-19

After an enthralling 3-2 victory over Germany' s VfL Wolfsburg U-19 team here on Thursday, Brazil' s Desportivo Brasil advanced into the Weifang Cup final to face China U-19 National Team, who beat Japan' s Kashima Antlers 5-3 in the penalty shootout.

Desportivo Brasil, who topped Group A with three consecutive wins, played with power and pace during the first half of the semifinal, leaving Wolfsburg no other choice but to concentrate on defense.

The Germans were limited to their own side of the field until the 25th minute, when they finally found some chances to organize counterattacks after returning from a brief break during which players of both sides were allowed to drink some water.

Desportivo, nonetheless, played a set of fluent and rhythmic passing inside Wolfsburg' s area in the 38th minute, and Robert Luis Pardo poked the ball into the net ahead of Wolfsburg goalkeeper' s attempt to come out and punch the ball.

Wolfsburg, defending champions of the tournament, scored the equalizer just four minutes into the second half thanked to right winger Arron MckinzieGaines, but saw their effort in vain four minutes later as Desportivo' s Luis Henrique Martins dos Santos headed in a crossing from the left flank.

The Germans levelled the score yet again in the 55th minute -- this time by David Nieland who shot into the empty goal as Desportivo goalkeeper failed to clear a long-range free-kick from the midfield.

Wolfsburg goalkeeper Tom-Luca Divjak' s pointless dribbling when he should have made a goal kick as soon as possible resulted in Desportivo midfielder Mauro Jaqueson Junior Ferreira dos Sandos scoring the winner in the 63rd minute.

Although Desportivo' s Mateus Henrique Siqueira de Andrade was red-carded in the 89th minute after kicking onto a Wolfsburg player' s waist, the defending champions were not able to score during the three-minute injury time, thus losing the chance to claim the trophy again.

"Thank God we made it through and won the game even though one of our players was sent off," Ferreira dos Santos said. "We believe that after this victory, no one will stand in our way toward the championship."

Wolfsburg coach Thomas Reis said the players' performance was understandable given that they had just played an intensive game a day earlier, "but they made a lot of mistakes today, especially the third goal (by Desportivo), which shouldn' t have happened."

"Despite all these, I still consider this game the best one we have played in this year' s Weifang Cup, and I' m proud of my young boys," he added.

Meanwhile in another semifinal, China U-19 National Team tied 0-0 with Japan' s Kashima Antlers during regulation time and won 5-3 in the penalty shootout. They will battle for the championship in Saturday' s final against Desportivo Brasil. Endit