Brazil closer to 2010
Two goals from man-of-the-match Luiz Fabiano, and one from Manchester City’s new signing Robinho, put Brazil’s World Cup qualification back on track on Sunday with a 3-0 away win over Chile in Santiago.
The five-time World Cup winners had been languishing in sixth place in the 10-team South American zone qualifier, two places outside of assuring one of the four automatic places for the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals.
And with coach Dunga under criticism for poor performances, including from his country’s president, the trip to Santiago had loomed as a potential disaster.
Chile opened well and dominated, but it was former Sevilla striker Fabiano who opened the scoring against the run of play in the 20th minute when he headed home a Ronaldinho free-kick.
Fabiano, the midfielder who now plays club soccer for Milan, showed glimpses of his top form. He had a chance to make it 2-0 after Diego was downed in the box in the 34th minute, but his penalty-kick was superbly saved by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Ten minutes later, and on the stroke of half-time, Fabiano made an opening for former Real Madrid star Robinho and he made no mistake to make it 2-0.
Cheered on by a capacity 70000 crowd, the Chileans flung everything into attack at the start of the second half, and with tempers flaring both Brazil’s Kleber Anderson and Chile’s Jorge Valvidia were sent off.
With Brazil content to sit back, the home side pressed forward but were caught out eight minutes from time when Fabiano struck for his second goal.
The win hoisted Brazil into second place in the standings level on 12 points from seven games with Argentina, but ahead on goal difference.
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