For Marquinhos, the defeat marked the end of a journey filled with hope and ambition.
- Brazil, with Marquinhos, suffered a loss in extra time against Israel, ending their U20 World Cup journey.
- Despite a brilliant team goal, Brazil could not maintain the lead as Israel fought back to win the game.
- In another quarter-final match, Colombia were defeated by Italy, with Arsenal’s academy goalkeeper, Alexei Rojas, on the bench for Colombia.
Marquinhos’ U20 World Cup dreams halted
The hopes of Brazil’s U20s, including Arsenal’s Marquinhos, to secure World Cup glory were dealt a fatal blow as they lost to Israel in the competition’s quarter-finals.
The match was a gruelling one that went into extra-time, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats throughout.
An intense struggle on the field
After a tense first half which saw no goals from either side, it was Brazil who first broke the deadlock.
A skilled strike by Marcos Leonardo put the Selecao ahead.
However, Israel were quick to respond. Anan Khalaili’s spectacular leaping header, courtesy of a perfect cross from El-Yam Kancepolsky, brought the game level.
As the 90 minutes drew to a close with the teams locked at 1-1, extra-time was inevitable.
Brazil kicked it off with an incredible team effort that resulted in Matheus Nascimento striking the net. The celebrations, though, were short-lived.
A dramatic end to the match
Israel, refusing to bow out, came back with vengeance. A quick equaliser from Hamza Shibli was followed by a masterful goal by Dor Turgeman that saw Israel take the lead for the first time in the game. Despite a missed and retaken penalty, the score remained 3-2 in favour of Israel.
Marquinhos, who played the full 90 minutes plus extra time, was unable to help his team recover, despite their relentless efforts.
Other notable matches
In the other quarter-final of the evening, Colombia were beaten by Italy.
Arsenal’s academy goalkeeper, Alexei Rojas, was on the bench for Colombia.
While it was a disappointing night for both Brazil and Colombia, these matches showcased the exciting talent and future potential in the football world with Arsenal scouts there to keep an eye on some of them.