08/06/2005
Argentina outgun Brazil to qualify for World Cup
Argentina produced a stunning first-half
performance as they scored three times before the break to beat
arch-rivals Brazil 3-1 and qualify for the 2006 World Cup on Wednesday.
Two goals by Hernan Crespo and one from Juan Roman Riquelme stunned the
world champions, who fought back in the second half and replied with a
trademark free kick from Roberto Carlos.
Despite the defeat, Brazil remain second in the 10-nation South American
group on 27 points from 15 games and are almost certain to advance along
with Argentina, maintaining their proud record as the only country to
have played at every finals.
They only need three points to guarantee their place and still have to
face Chile and Venezuela at home and bottom side Bolivia away.
Argentina, who have 31 points, are certain of a top-four finish with
three matches to go.
In South American qualifying, the top four teams advance and the fifth
plays off against the Oceania region winners.
After thumping Paraguay 4-1 on Sunday, Brazil appeared overconfident as
they produced a toothless first-half performance in which they had no
answer to Argentina's biting tackles and swift passing.
The second half was a different story, however, as the visitors took
control and gave Argentina an uncomfortable final 20 minutes.
Argentina took the game to Brazil from the start with Crespo opening the
scoring in the fourth minute when Luis Gonzalez found him around 25
metres from goal and the AC Milan striker thumped a low shot past Dida.
Brazil had barely recovered from that shock when Riquelme added a superb
second in the 18th minute.
After starting a move with a clever flicked pass to Gonzalez, Riquelme
picked up the ball with his back to goal, turned past Roque Junior and
scored with a thumping left-foot drive from 25 metres.
WORST DEFEAT
Brazil failed to muster a shot on goal and it got even worse in the 40th
minute.
Javier Saviola picked up a short corner, turned and crossed to the near
post where Crespo leapt in front of Roque Junior to head the third and
his seventh of the qualifiers.
At that point, Brazil were facing their worst defeat since their 3-0
loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final.
There were several scuffles as Brazil's frustration got the better of
them and card-shy referee Gustavo Mendez allowed a number of ugly
tackles to go unpunished.
Ronaldinho escaped when he shoved his hand in Juan Pablo Sorin's face
and there was also no card from the Uruguayan official when Roberto
Ayala cynically tripped Adriano from behind.
Brazil were a different team in the second half after surviving an early
let-off when Dida parried Gonzalez's shot.
Ze Roberto and Roque Junior both missed from close range after
inswinging crosses from Roberto Carlos caught out the Argentina defence.
The Real Madrid player reduced the arrears himself in the 72nd minute
when he rifled in a 25-metre free kick.
Kaka and Adriano both had chances to reduce the deficit further and the
latter hit the post in the 84th minute with the goal at his mercy.
Argentina survived again when goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri turned
Ronaldinho's free kick around the post in injury time.
