A gem for Mexico
PUERTO ORDAZ (Venezuela): Mexico striker Nery Castillo scored a sublime goal to set his team on their way to a shock 2-0 win over defending champions Brazil at the Copa America on Wednesday.
Castillo flicked the ball over a defender’s head and then past goalkeeper Doni without letting it touch the ground in the 21st minute of the Group B match.
Spectacular: Brazil’s Robinho executes a bicycle kick as Mexico’s Rafael Marquez (left) and Israel Castro try to stop him during a Copa America Group B match on Wednesday. Mexico won 2-0. – APA Ramon Morales free kick eight minutes later made it 2-0, sealing defeat for Brazil coach Dunga in his first competitive match in charge.
Castillo flicked the ball over a defender’s head and then past goalkeeper Doni without letting it touch the ground in the 21st minute of the Group B match.
Spectacular: Brazil’s Robinho executes a bicycle kick as Mexico’s Rafael Marquez (left) and Israel Castro try to stop him during a Copa America Group B match on Wednesday. Mexico won 2-0. – APA Ramon Morales free kick eight minutes later made it 2-0, sealing defeat for Brazil coach Dunga in his first competitive match in charge.
Mexico survived a second-half battering by Brazil, with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa making a string of outstanding saves to preserve their lead.
Brazil, playing their first competitive match since last year’s World Cup quarter-final defeat by France, were missing Ronaldinho and Kaka, who asked to be rested from the tournament.
Mexico went into the match on the back of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final and were also without a number of key players.
Mexico’s opener was reminiscent of Pele’s memorable goal for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden.
Juan Carlos Cacho chipped the ball into the penalty area where Olympiakos striker Castillo flicked it over the head of Juan and, without letting it touch the ground, poked it past Doni.
Brazil had barely recovered from that shock when Ramon Morales curled a magnificent 30-metre free-kick over the wall and beyond a stunned Doni, who did not even move.
With Diego marked out of the game by Jaime Correa, Brazil looked lost in midfield and rarely threatened.
Brazil brought on Anderson and Afonso at halftime, took control and created a flurry of chances only to be denied by Ochoa.
After making a brave save at Robinho’s feet, Ochoa turned a goalbound Afonso volley round the post and then made an unbelievable double save to deny Robinho and Anderson.
Brazil’s frustration mounted as Robinho hit the crossbar from a tight angle and Alex Rodrigo had a header cleared off the line by Fausto Pinto.
“We lost concentration and conceded the goals,” said Brazil coach Dunga.
“We recovered and showed our quality but the ball would not go in.” – Reuters
source: The Star, Friday June 29, 2007
