Spain come unstuck in Seoul

Spain were denied their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup success as Nigeria grabbed the title with a 3-0 penalty shootout success after 120 goalless minutes in the final in Seoul.

Heroic goalkeeping
With Spain's UEFA European Under-17 Championship-winning forward Bojan Krkić suspended following his red card after scoring the semi-final clincher, Nigeria goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye emerged as the star of the show. He performed heroics from open play and saving two penalties in the decisive shootout to earn the African champions their third U-17 World Cup, equalling Brazil's record. Spain coach Juan Santisteban. in his third final as coach, banked on a five-man midfield to support lone striker Dani Aquino in Bojan's absence and almost broke through in the first half as Sergio González had a shot cleared off the line. Fran Mérida, Dani Aquino and Iago Falqué all had good chances blocked by Ajiboye as the game went on, but things fell apart in the shoot-out.

'Positive memories'
Asier Illarramendi missed Spain's first kick before Ajiboye denied both Mérida and Iago. Matthew Edile, Daniel Joshua and Ganiyu Oseni were successful for Nigeria. Santisteban said: "The team deserves the credit for their performances in the final. We were a bit unlucky in the penalty shoot-out, but I think that the whole team will take home positive memories from our time here. This is an experience that they will remember for their entire life."

German bronze
Earlier, Germany beat Ghana 2-1 in the third-place play-off game. Toni Kroos - awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament - put Germany into a 17th-minute lead and although Ranford Osei equalised midway through the second half, substitute Alexander Esswein scored an injury-time winner, though he was then sent off for a second bookable offence. Of the other European teams in Korea Republic, England and France lost to Germany and Spain respectively in the quarter-finals and Belgium exited in the group stage.