...

Argentina 1-3 Brazil

Other News Materials 6 September 2009 09:36 (UTC +04:00)
Argentina 1-3 Brazil

Brazil booked their place at the 2010 World Cup with a comfortable victory which further dents Argentina's hopes of reaching the finals in South Africa, BBC reported.

An unmarked Luisao met Elano's free-kick to head the visitors in front and Luis Fabiano tapped in from close range after Maicon's shot was spilled.

Brazil keeper Julio Cesar denied Maxi Rodriguez from close range before Jesus Datolo scored with a spectacular drive.

But Kaka released Fabiano, who dinked the ball home to seal his side's win.

The top four teams in the South American zone qualify automatically, while the fifth placed team meets the fourth placed team from CONCACAF qualification in a two-legged play-off.

Brazil top their zone on 30 points, three clear of second-placed Paraguay and 10 above fifth-placed Columbia.

With three games left to play, that means Dunga's men are guaranteed a place in South Africa.

Argentina, meanwhile, are hanging on to fourth place after only their second ever home defeat in World Cup qualifying.

They have 22 points, with Ecuador and Colombia both just two points adrift.

Argentina benefited from Colombia's 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Saturday because had Ecuador won, it would have moved them up to fourth.

Diego Maradona's side face a daunting trip to Paraguay on Wednesday before hosting Peru on 10 October and travelling to seventh-placed Uruguay on 13 October.

Brazil welcome Chile on Wednesday and then finish with a double-header against Bolivia on and Venezuela.

The hosts looked to attack Brazil from the outset in Rosaria, Lionel Messi going wide with a left-footed shot in the 13th minute to rouse the home crowd.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead 11 minutes later when Luisao found himself in acres of space and powerfully headed a Kaka free-kick past goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

Brazil doubled their lead after Andujar failed to hold on to Maicon's strike from Kaka's pull-back and Sevilla striker Fabiano pounced on the rebound.

Argentina almost reduced the deficit seven minutes later when Rodriguez steered Carlos Tevez's right-wing cross goal-bound but Cesar was equal to it.

Andujar spared the home team further embarrassment with a number of fine saves before they hauled themselves back into contention when Napoli midfielder Datolo beat Cesar with a rasping effort from about 30 yards.

Argentina's optimism was short-lived, however, as Fabiano met Kaka's slide-rule pass and lifted the the ball over an advancing Andujar.

Several chances came and went but Argentina's first home World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993, when they lost 5-0 to Colombia in Buenos Aires, was never in doubt.

Latest

Latest