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Brazil thrash Paraguay in warning to arch rivals Argentina
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-06 08:51
A Ronaldinho double and further goals from Ze Roberto and youngster Robinho
earned Brazil a 4-1 victory over Paraguay to put them within one point of
leaders Argentina whom they meet in three days time.
Brazilian soccer
striker Ronaldinho Gaucho leaves the field, as fireworks blast over the
stadium, at the end of the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup South American
qualifying match against Paraguay at Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre,
Brazil. Brazil won 4-1.[AFP] | Ronaldinho, the
2004 FIFA World Player of the Year, had a superb game and was often in the heart
of the action apart from converting two first half penalties.
Brazil are now going into their match against arch rivals Argentina in Buenos
Aires on Wednesday in good spirits though that cannot be said for their
opponents who lost their unbeaten record in a 2-0 defeat away to Ecuador on
Saturday.
Argentina lead the 10-nation, South American World Cup qualifying table with
28 points and Brazil now have 27 points from their 14 matches. The top four
qualify automatically with the fifth-placed team playing off with the Oceania
winners.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira went ahead and included 21-year-old
Santos striker Robinho, as well as Inter Milan's Adriano, and Ricardo Oliveira
was left on the bench.
Robinho benefited from the absence of Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo who asked
Parreira to be left out because of his recent separation from his fiancee
Daniella Cicarelli.
The 50,000 fans in the crowd were simply treated to a goal feast.
First up was a 32rd minute penalty from Ronaldinho following a handball. The
Barcelona star struck the ball firmly to the left as Paraguay keeper Justo
Villar dived the other way.
Ronaldinho got another spotkick in the 40th minute when Robinho was brought
down in the area, and he again hit it to the left but a little harder and higher
leaving Villar, once again, no chance.
Brazil could easily have added another couple of goals early in the second
half when Brazil's Ze Roberto hit the crossbar and a Carlos effort skimmed the
left hand post.
With 20 minutes to go, Ze Roberto made up for his earlier miss when he
received the ball on the edge of the area and, after controlling the ball,
curled it left-footed into the top left hand corner to leave Villar no chance.
Roque Santa Cruz pulled a goal back for Paraguay with a header two minutes
later but that was a minor blip in Brazil's fortunes.
Robinho, with only Villar to beat, sent him the wrong way in the 83rd minute
to leave Brazil fans in a buoyant, party mood.
Meanwhile Parreira has something to prove when they meet Argentina on
Wednesday as it has been nearly 10 years since they last won in the Monumental
stadium in Buenos Aires.
Parreira has led Brazil against Argentina seven times but only twice at the
Monumental stadium -- when they lost 1-0 in 1983 but drew 1-1 in 1993 -- and he
is out to vastly improve those statistics with a win.
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