FIFA Under-17 World Cup: Brazil script second-half turnaround to secure semifinal berth

Brazil came back from one goal down to defeat Germany 2-1 and reach the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 in Kolkata on Sunday.

They needed a second-half turnaround after Captain Jann-Fiete Arp's first half penalty has put Germany in front. 

Brazil made the brighter start to the contest and went close to taking the lead just six minutes in. Brenner won possession on the edge of the Germany box and found Alan, whose low drive struck the far post.

As the match passed the quarter-hour mark, Germany settled down and looked the better side up to half-time. They would open the scoring from the penalty spot on 21 minutes after John Yeboah was tripped by a sliding Lucas Halter in the Brazil box. Captain Jann-Fiete Arp converted his spot-kick for his joint-leading fifth goal of the tournament.

South American champions turned the match around after the break with two goals in six minutes. Substitute Weverson levelled matters on 71 minutes with a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar before Paulinho drove home a bullet finish six minutes later, to the delight of the Brazil-supporting Kolkata crowd. 

The match was played in front of a passionate crowd of 66,613 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium. 

The result sent Brazil into a last-four meeting with England in Guwahati on Wednesday.