The host Brazil qualified for the final of the U-17 World Cup on Thursday by defeating France 3-2 thanks to a spectacular comeback in the second half, in which they turned around the 0-2 lead that the 'Bleus' had.
Brazil, the only undefeated team in the tournament, will face Mexico in the final on Sunday, who had previously defeated the Netherlands in the penalty shootout in the other semifinal.
In the matchup between the two best teams of the tournament so far, each team dominated one half.
Showing off their privileged physique and with very fast attacks on the wings, mainly on the left, the 'Bleus' took a two-goal lead before the first quarter-hour.
In the 7th minute, the team's star player, attacking midfielder Adil Aouchiche, made a through pass between the Brazilian defense for Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga, who finished for a goal against goalkeeper Matheus Donelli.
Far from settling, the French continued attacking and extended their lead in the 13th minute, when a well-built play from the defense ended with Nathanael Mbuku entering the area with power from the left, passing between two defenders and scoring the second French goal.
Pressure got to Brazil and they suffered from the boos of the 13,587 spectators who attended the Bezerrao de Gama, impatient with the lack of offense from the 'Canarinha'.
The story changed completely in the second half, in which France slowed down and Brazil took advantage of it to equalize the game in the few clear chances they had.
In the 62nd minute, after a corner kick, Kaio Jorge used his head inside the small area to score the 2-1, which encouraged the crowd and gave Brazil an extra push.
In the 76th minute, a cross from the left by Daniel Cabral, after a great individual play, was finished off by Gabriel Verón into the back of the net to equalize the match.
Just when it seemed that the match would be decided in a penalty shootout, after a French offside, in the 89th minute goalkeeper Donelli quickly launched the ball forward, where Lázaro controlled it, got past his marker, and sent a powerful shot into the back of Melvin Zinga's net.
With the victory, Brazil will have the chance to avenge the defeat suffered in the 2005 final of the tournament against Mexico, their next opponent.
It will be the sixth final in the tournament for the 'Canarinha', who have won three titles in the category (1997, 1999, and 2003) and return to the final 14 years later.