Match Highlights : Brazil Vs Uruguay

Jeered Dunga holds up Argentine fans as example

Brazil coach Dunga held up the fans of arch-rivals Argentina as an example after his team were jeered despite beating Uruguay in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier.

The jeering began after only 30 minutes, when Uruguay were leading 1-0, and Dunga himself was insulted by the notoriously fickle Morumbi crowd.

Despite turning the game around in the second half, the crowd continued to boo the home side and Ronaldinho and Robinho both went off to whistles when they were substituted.

"We were making a lot of mistakes and we weren't playing well, so it's normal for the crowd to jeer," Dunga told reporters.

"It's not new in Sao Paulo and it doesn't just happen to me, so I know it's not personal. Lots of other coaches have also been booed here.

"But it was a bit strange in the second half when we were winning and some people kept booing.

"In Argentina and Paraguay, the crowd tries to lift their team."
Forward Robinho said he knew what to expect.

"I knew they were very demanding," he said. "It wasn't a surprise for me."

WCQ Match Report : Brazil 2-1 Uruguay

Luis Fabiano scored twice to give Brazil a fortuitous 2-1 win over Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday after the visitors had taken an early lead and dominated the game.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar came to Brazil's rescue several times as they beat their smaller neighbours for the first time since 1999, a run stretching over six matches.

Sebastian Abreu gave Uruguay an eighth-minute lead before Luis Fabiano equalised in the 44th minute and snatched the winner midway through the second half.

An impatient Morumbi crowd jeered Brazil, insulted coach Dunga and booed Ronaldinho and Robinho when they were substituted in the second half. Brazil have eight points from four games in the South American group and Uruguay have four.

"We didn't play well especially in the first half and we gave the ball away a lot, when our passing is usually our strength," Dunga told reporters.

"We will improve and there's no point in changing everything just because of one game. I'm happy with the result and because we overcame our difficulties."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was happy with his team's performance but not the result.
"We played a good game, unfortunately it didn't get us anywhere because we were not clinical enough," he said.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano said: "We played better over the 90 minutes but we lacked experience to kill off the game. It's very difficult with all the forwards that Brazil have."

EARLY WARNING

Uruguay sounded an early warning when Luis Suarez narrowly failed to make contact with Cristian Rodriguez's cross and Ignacio Gonzalez forced a good save from Julio Cesar.

They went ahead in the eighth minute when Maximiliano Pereira skipped past Ronaldinho and crossed to the far post for Abreu to score with a diving header.

Although Kaka had a penalty appeal turned down for Brazil after a typically powerful run, Uruguay continued to create the better chances.

Julio Cesar made difficult saves to keep out shots by Alvaro Gonzalez and Pereira, while Rodriguez fired over from an excellent position after a sweeping move down the left.

The Brazilian crowd grew restless, booing their team and insulting Dunga after only half an hour.

But the hosts equalised out of the blue in the 44th minute when Luis Fabiano scored from a narrow angle with a shot which went through Fabian Carini's legs.

Suarez had an excellent chance to regain the lead for Uruguay early in the second half when he broke down the right but he was foiled by Juan's last-ditch tackle.

Brazil went ahead against the run of play in the 65th minute when Gilberto mis-hit a shot and the ball fell to Luis Fabiano who swept it into the goal.

Uruguay replied immediately and Julio Cesar made a superb save to turn away an Abreu header.

WCQ Result : Brazil 2-1 Uruguay

A Luis Fabiano double helped Brazil to a 2-1 victory against an enthusiastic Uruguay side.

Uruguay who took the lead through striker Abreu's header early in the first half only for Luis Fabiano to equalise squeezing his shot through the keepers legs from a tight angle.

Brazil got their winner midway through the 2nd half as Luis Fabiano fired home Gilberto's miscued shot. It was a patchy display from Brazil who still have not been convincing in any of their qualifiers for the World Cup 2010.

Ronaldinho was almost non-existent as he was replaced in the 60th minute with Robinho suffering the same fate 10 minutes later.

Full match report to follow....

Brazil coach rules out drastic changes for Uruguay match

SAO PAULO: Brazilian national coach Carlos Dunga stood up for the team’s superstars on Monday in the face of criticism in the media, and he ruled out any drastic changes for today’s match against Uruguay in Sao Paulo.

“We have two days to train and play ... I do not think we should modify the team all the time, because the players would then lose their self-confidence. If within five or six games things are not going well, then we will have to make changes,” the coach said in a press conference in Sao Paulo.

On Sunday Brazil drew 1-1 against Peru in Lima, and the winners of five World Cups are now third in South America’s qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with five points in three games. Argentina top the table with nine points, while Paraguay have seven.

Dunga tried to defend his players – particularly Ronaldinho and Robinho – from the criticism of the Brazilian media.

The coach noted that these players, along with fellow superstar Kaka, are not to blame for the lack of attacking effectiveness shown by Brazil in two away games in the qualifiers. Brazil drew 0-0 in Colombia and also failed to win in Peru.

“We do not just depend on the three, we have to have collective play. We will only solve our problems in the team if we think jointly,” said Dunga.

He admitted that he has not yet had time to set up a tactical scheme for the national team. However, Dunga expressed great confidence that the problems shown so far will be overcome.

“The longer we train together, the better we will be,” he said.

Dunga stressed that he is not worried about Brazil’s current third place in the qualifiers.

“We played two games away and one at home. The important thing is to qualify, to secure a spot in the World Cup.

“When that has been achieved, we will think about getting to the top. In 2002 we qualified third and we became world champions. And in 2006 we qualified first and we did not win the Cup,” Dunga recalled.

He declined to give hints as to the team’s starting line-up against Uruguay, but he noted the only sure absence is that of the central defender Lucio, Brazil’s captain, who is suspended for one game after his second booking of the series in the qualifiers.

Breno upset with Real Madrid age demands

A move by Real Madrid may have left them on the outer in the battle for Sao Paulo defender Breno.

The 18 year-old Brazilian has Real, Bayern Munich and AC Milan chasing his signature and it's emerged that the Spanish club actually demanded he undergo an X-Ray examination to prove his age.

"If Real really want me," said Breno, "I shouldn't have to undergo any examinations. They can just try for another defender.

"As far as I'm concerned, there's no problem. I am sure of my age."

Tottenham boss Ramos makes Real Madrid's Baptista priority signing

Real Madrid attacking midfielder Julio Baptista is a priority target for Tottenham boss Juande Ramos.

Marca says Baptista is the one player Ramos wants to sign from the Primera Liga, having worked closely with the Brazilian when the pair were together at Sevilla.

Spurs will offer £5 million for Baptista in January, but Real won't sell for anything less than crazy money. Real coach Bernd Schuster wants a deep squad list as they continue to be alive in all three competitions this season.

That won't put off Ramos, however, and if a deal can't be closed for the winter market, he will return next summer to bring Baptista to White Hart Lane.

Match Highlights : Peru Vs Brazil

WCQ Match Report : Peru 1-1 Brazil

Kaka scored a stunning 30-metre goal as Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by a feisty Peru in Sunday's World Cup qualifier.

Kaka, who scored twice in last month's 5-0 thrashing of Ecuador, was on target in the 40th minute to give Brazil the lead in the South American group match.

Underdogs Peru hit back in the 71st minute when Juan Vargas scored with a deflected shot from outside the area, the first his team have scored in the group and the first conceded by Brazil.

Brazil almost snatched a winner when Juan headed against the crossbar from a free kick in the last move of the game.

Brazil have five points from three games, four points behind leaders Argentina, and Peru two after three games of the marathon, two-year qualifying campaign.

"Our performances was very good in the first half but we dropped off in the second, when we lost a lot of balls in the midfield and they were able to hit us on the break," said Brazil coach Dunga. "Football depends on goals. There's no point in creating chances if you don't put them away."

Peru, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1982, subjected Brazil to some intense early pressure when Vargas went close with a low left-foot shot from outside the area while Jefferson Farfan fired over on the edge of the penalty area.

Brazil weathered the storm and had a series of chances. Maicon headed wide from a free kick before Robinho had his shot charged down by Diego Penny. Vagner Love, who had won possession on the edge of the penalty area, then shot just wide of the post.

Kaka, however, broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when he was found by Miniero and the AC Milan player's dipping 30-metre shot swerved away from Penny's reach.

Kaka nearly added another two minutes later with a chip which Penny turned over.
The second half got off to a slow start as Brazil tried to slow the game down and frustrate the hosts.

Brazil were close to a second when Penny turned Ronaldinho's free kick around the post and saved another in a scramble following the resulting corner.

Peru equalised in the 71st minute when Juan Vargas met a half clearance with a low left-foot shot from 25 metres which took a deflection off Lucio on its way into the goal.

Farfan set up a clear chance for a Peru winner when he found Claudio Pizarro free on the edge of the area but the Chelsea striker's first touch let him down and he lost the ball.

Brazil finished on the attack and Juan, who had a superb game in defence, was foiled by the crossbar deep into injury time.

WCQ Result : Peru 1-1 Brazil

Brazil drew their 3rd qualifying game to Peru 1-1 as a fired up Peru equalised in the 71st minute to gain a point.

Kaka opened the scoring in the 40th minute thanks to quick control and a superb out- swerving shot from 25 yards out to give Brazil the lead. Brazil were hustled and harried by Peru throughout the game and although Juan hit the bar in the dying seconds of the game, a draw was a fair result.

Full match report to follow...