A hat-trick from Oscar lifted Brazil to a 3-2 extra-time triumph over Portugal on Saturday in the final of the under-20 World Cup. After opening the scoring in the fifth minute, Oscar struck a second half equalizer that sent the match to extra-time after full-time saw the teams deadlocked at 2-2.
Oscar got the winner in the 111th minute, lofting a ball from the right that arched over Portugal keeper Mika and gave Brazil a fifth under-20 WC title after their runner-up finish two years ago. Although Brazil started the favorites over a Portuguese team seeking a third under-20 crown, the match was tightly contested throughout.
Oscar broke through in the fifth with a free kick into the corner that caught Mika napping. It was the first goal surrendered by Portugal in the tournament. Nelson Oliveira set up Portugal’s equalizer with a cross that Alex fired home in the ninth. And Oliveira put Portugal ahead in the 59th, breaking free on the right and running past a defender to beat Brazil keeper Gabriel with a sharply angled shot.
Brazil’s equalizer came in the 78th minute when Mika blocked a shot by Dudu, only for Oscar to turn and slot the ball home. The result avenged the result of the 1991 final, when Portugal beat Brazil on penalties. Earlier Saturday, Mexico beat France 3-1 in the third-place playoff. Ulises Davila, Jorge Enriquez and Edson Rivera scored for Mexico after Alexandre Lacazette put France ahead in the eighth minute.
