Argentina clinch fourth youth title

Scoring sensation Saviola celebrates his goal

Argentina 3-0 Ghana

Argentina secured a record fourth World Youth Championship success with victory over Ghana in Buenos Aires.

It is their third triumph in the past four competitions, following their victories in Qatar in 1995 and Malaysia in 1997. The first, inspired by a young Diego Maradona, was in 1979.

Defender Diego Colotto set the South Americans on the way to victory with a crisp volley in the sixth minute much to delight of the huge home crowd at the José Amalfitani stadium.

Javier Saviola, who has been the subject of a recent £17.8m bid from Barcelona, doubled the home side's advantage after 14 minutes.

They played quite brilliant football not just today but throughout the tournament

  Jose Pekerman

Left unmarked in the middle, he deftly glanced in a cross by Maximiliano Rodriguez.

It was the striker's 11th goal in the tournament, the highest goals tally in the history of the competition.

The Africans, who were also beaten finalists in 1993, never recovered from the early setback and could not find the flowing attacking football which had taken them to the final, eliminating Brazil on the way.

The rest of the game was an anti-climax as Argentina seemed content to rest on their lead.

Most of the highlights were provided by playmaker Andres D'Alessandro, whose trickery tormented and embarrassed the Ghana defence, often leaving their defenders on the ground.

Like Saviola, D'Alessandro, who shone against England under-21s last February, is a product of River Plate's youth programme and has also been linked with a move to a top European club.

D'Alessandro created an excellent chance with a run and cross from the right early in the second half but Nicolas Burdisso's far post header was saved by Maxwell Banahene.

Penalty miss

In the 73rd minute, D'Alessandro chipped a pass over the Ghana defence and Rodriguez blasted in the third.

Compounding Ghana's misery, Abdul Ibrahim missed a penalty in the 89th minute.

A tearful Argentinian coach Jose Pekerman paid fulsome tribute to his players afterwards.

"They have played quite brilliant football throughout the tournament," he said.

"It's difficult sometimes to play in front of your home fans because there is extra pressure but these young men were more than able to stand up and be counted when it mattered.

"This is a really great win achieved with wonderful football and as talented a squad as one could wish to coach," he added.