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| Sunday, July 1, 2001 19:02 EST |
Brazil falls to Uruguay
[Reuters]
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Uruguay left Brazil in danger
of missing a World Cup for the first time on Sunday with a
controversial 1-0 win in a key qualifying match.
It was the four-times world champions' fifth match without a
win.
Federico Magallanes converted a 32nd-minute penalty as
Uruguay, a fallen power in international soccer, revived its
own chances and left Brazil delicately poised in the South
American qualifying group.
Brazil, with Luiz Felipe Scolari making his debut as its
third coach in less than a year, claimed it should have had
an equalizer in the 85th minute.
A long-range free kick from Barcelona's Rivaldo was held by
goalkeeper Fabian Carini, who appeared to carry the ball over
the line as he fell backwards, but referee Hugh Dallas waved
play on.
Brazil remains fourth in the qualifying group with 21 points
but are now ahead of Uruguay only on goal difference.
Four teams qualify, with the fifth playing off against
Oceania region winners Australia. But with a difficult run-in,
Brazil's record as the only country to have played at every
World Cup finals is in danger.
Apart from Rivaldo's late effort, Uruguay, which is hoping to
reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990, fully
deserved their win in a rough, scrappy match played in the
stadium that hosted the first World Cup final 71 years ago.
With the exception of midfielder Juninho Paulista, Brazil,
who packed its midfield with marking specialists, lacked
inspiration, creativity and talent.
Rivaldo had yet another dismal game for his country and
veteran striker Romario barely touched the ball.
The penalty was awarded when a weaving run by Recoba ended
with a foul by right-back Cafu just inside the penalty area.
Magallanes calmly placed a low shot to the right of goalkeeper
Marcos.
Uruguay had enjoyed the better of the opening stages and
nearly went ahead after 20 minutes when an acrobatic volley on
the turn from Dario Silva was tipped over the crossbar by
Marcos.
Inter Milan's Reocba, one of more than a dozen players given
one-year bans by the Italian Football League in a false passport
scandal earlier this week, inspired Uruguay with one of his best
performances for his country.
Magallanes wasted an excellent chance for a second goal on
the stroke of halftime when he failed to make contact with a
free kick close to the goal.
Scolari, whose appointment was a reward for winning a hatful
of trophies in club football but who has been accused of
employing a win-at-all-costs approach, brought on strikers
Jardel and Euller in the last half hour without success.
The best second-half chance fell to Recoba, who was set free
by Magallanes but sent his shot across the face of the goal.
Brazil have taken only one out of their last nine World Cup
points and have lost their last three games in all competitions.
Their last win was against Cameroon at the Confederations Cup.
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