BRAZIL, SERBIA INTO U-20 WORLD CUP FINAL

Brazil swept into the final of the Under-20 World Cup by routing Senegal 5-0, and they will face Serbia for the title after Mali were beaten 2-1 after extra time in the other semifinal.

Brazil players celebrate against Senegal

 Five-time champions Brazil had been far from dominant in their previous knockout matches, beating both Uruguay and Portugal in penalty shootouts, but they quickly took charge against Senegal, going 4-0 up inside 35 minutes.

Marcos Guilherme scored twice while Boschilla and Jorge also had goals for Brazil which opened the scoring via an own goal.

Brazil will face the winner of the Wednesday's second semifinal between Serbia and Mali in the final.

Brazil went ahead when an attack down the right flank by Joao Pedro was followed by an innocuous pass into the middle, which deflected off Senegal defender Andelinou Correa's heel into the goal. Correa had only been on the park for 13 minutes in the entire tournament and was only playing because usual starter Mouhameth Sane was suspended.

Two minutes later Brazil doubled the lead, this time in more conventional circumstances.

Three Brazil players found themselves with an overlap on a fast break. Gabriel Jesus held his nerve while Marcus Guilherme found space, the ball was passed away from the Senegal defenders and he blasted in easily.

Senegal were always going to be underdogs against Brazil but would have expected better quality defending, and it was another mistake at the back which handed the favorites a third goal.

Another soft shot along the ground from the flank was only partially stopped by a sprawling Senegal goalkeeper Ibrahima Sy directly into the path of midfielder Boschilia who seized on the chance.

Senegal had a couple of their own opportunities but were unable to capitalise, and it mattered little as Brazil added a fourth on the 35-minute mark, Jorge scoring another goal that was simply too easy.

Senegal were out of their depth and shortly before halftime were reduced to 10 players when Elimane Cisse received his second yellow card.

The second half lacked urgency, with Brazil knowing the result was secure and Senegal stripped of motivation.

Brazil added a fifth after some clever interplay allowed Guilherme to tap in his second in the 78th minute.

As good as Brazil was on attack, their defence has been their real strength. They have now played 502 minutes since they last conceded a goal, which had come in the eighth minute of their second match.

In the other semifinal, Serbia beat 10-man Mali 2-1 after extra time at North Harbour Stadium.

Andrija Maksimovic's early goal had set the tone for an imposing Serbian side, before Youssouf Kone's equaliser helped Mali regain their confidence before halftime.

Serbia players celebrate beating Mali

The game went to extra time and the winner came 10 minutes into the added period when Milos Veljkovic's header into the six-yard box found the unmarked Ivan Saponjic, who nodded past goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.

Kone received a second yellow card in the closing moments to all but end Mali's hopes of victory and to allow Serbia to hold on for the win.