Defending champions Brazil were held to a goalless draw at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships in New Zealand on Sunday, leaving their group in Christchurch still wide open, with Paraguay having virtually made sure it has top place in group D after an emphatic win in Dunedin.

Brazil, winners of the last FIFA Under-17 World Championships in Egypt two years ago, were held to a goalless draw by Mali in a match that either side could have won. The Brazilians still top the group, onepoint ahead of Australia who earlier came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in the other group C match.

Mali had two points after a second successive draw and the Germans, with a single point, still have a statistical chance of a quarter-final place, but will have to beat Brazil in the last group match on Wednesday.

Paraguay's 5-0 thumping of Jamaica confirmed their pedigree in group D in Dunedin, where they led 4-0 at half-time and coasted comfortably through most of the game. The defeat means the 'Young Boyz' will Thailand and host New Zealand as the teams already eliminated.

The best football of the day was dished up by Burkina Faso and Qatar in a thrilling game where the Asian side held on for a narrow 2-1 win overall 10-man Burkina beside at Carrisbrook in Dunedin.

Qatar led 2-0 at the break and Burkina had striker Djibril Compaore sent off but, against the odds, the African team fought back and came narrowly close to a share of the spoils.