Fulham’s Steven Sessegnon made a crucial goal as England’s Under 17s beat Brazil in Kolkata this afternoon to reach Saturday’s World Cup final.
The Young Lions defeated the highly-fancied Brazilians 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster to reach the final of the premier international age-group tournament for the first time in their history. Sessegnon, who has retained his place in the start since starting England’s final group game against Iraq, recovered from a slow start – and receiving an early yellow card for a foul – to deliver another composed and adventurous performance from right back.
Just as England were coming under pressure after a piece from predatory finishing from Wesley cancelled out Brewster’s early strike, Sessegnon made a 40 yard overlapping run down the right, received possession and tricked his way to the byline before pulling back a dangerous cross which Brewster converted from close range to restore England’s lead before half-time. It was Sessegnon’s third assist of the tournament and, despite being substituted as a precaution with twenty minutes to play, the Fulham youngster has every chance of starting the final against Spain.