Argentina beats Brazil 2-1 to reach final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-29 08:56

Pablo Zabaleta's injury-time goal lifted Argentina past archrival Brazil 2-1 and into the final of the World Youth Championship on Tuesday.

Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, scores past Brazil's Favio Santos during the semi-finals World Championships soccer U20 match at the Galgenwaard stadium in Utrecht, central Netherlands, Tuesday June 28, 2005. Argentina went on to win 2-1. [AP]

The Argentine captain, on a followup shot, scored from close range in off a defender three minutes into injury time.

Argentina, which looked far more threatening than Brazil, will face Nigeria in the final on Saturday, after the Flying Eagles downed Morocco 3-0 in their semi.

Midfielder Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the seventh minute, on Argentina's first attack of the game. Covered by two defenders and outside the area, the left-footer launched a powerful shot which curled inside the right post.

Renato nodded a free kick into the left corner for the equalizer in the 75th.

The win came 24 hours before the countries' senior teams meet in the Confederations Cup final in neighboring Germany.

Despite nursing a one-goal deficit for most of the game, Brazil played with an unusual casualness, and took too much time moving the ball within range of the Argentine goal.

"Brazil did have a lot of possession, but it was in areas that were less dangerous for us," said coach Ferraro Francisco. "We put pressure on Brazil when they had possession and then hit them when we needed it."

Argentina's attack looked far more potent. It appeared to double the score in the 22nd when Neri Cardozo finished a cross from Gustavo Oberman at the left post but was ruled offside.

After 63 minutes Zabaleta collided with 'keeper Renan on an Argentine free kick, and the ball bounced narrowly wide.

Messi, a leading candidate for player of the tournament, set up teammate Fernando Gago in the 80th at the top of the box, but his shot cleared the crossbar.

He also began the play that led to Zabaleta's goal, dribbling deep into the goal box before sending the ball through the center. Brazil failed to clear, and Zabaleta pounced.

Brazil's best chances were on headers from midfielder Bobo, first on a free kick that cleared the crossbar in the 20th, then on a cross from Rafael he put wide in the 40th.

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