Kaka propels Brazil past Mexico

Kaka propels Brazil past Mexico
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }
September 13, 2007
FOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) - It may have just been an international friendly, but Brazil wanted to win this game as if it counted.
In front of a crowd of 67,584 donned primarily in Brazilian yellow at Gillette Stadium Wednesday night, talented midfielder Kaka scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute to lead Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Mexico in their teams' last tuneup before 2010 World Cup qualifying.
The Brazilian team and new coach Dunga were surprised and pleased with the attendance of the Brazilian faithful.

"I was very proud to have them here," Dunga said. "Especially with our victory, it's a great happiness for our people here."
"I was surprised," Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez said. "It really felt like we were in Brazil."
As the raucous crowd looked on, Kaka found a ball waiting for him from eight yards out after Mexican defender Rafael Marquez failed to clear a cross, and the midfielder struck the near post with his shot as it just got past the keeper to break a 1-1 tie.
Dunga experimented in this game by moving Kaka up in the midfield to play more of a hybrid role between forward and midfield. The results spoke for themselves, as the AC Milan star scored the winning goal and dominated play on the field all day.
"He was very successful today," Dunga said. "This is a great opportunity to experiment with different positions and players."
It was a goal the whole game was building toward, as Brazil had two headers earlier in the half that were denied by a Mexican defender standing on the goal line and by a fantastic reaction save by Guillermo Ochoa.
"From that moment on we had to risk (going forward) and that's what lead to the third goal," Sanchez said.
Brazil added an insurance goal in the 86th minute, when substitute Afonso blasted the ball into the far corner of the goal to ensure victory.
Brazil had plenty of chances to score early in the first half, but couldn't convert, and despite Brazil's dictation of the play for most of the first half, Mexico put the first goal on the board in the 43rd minute on a counter attack.
Andres Guardado controlled a cross near the left corner of the six-yard box, and with Brazilian keeper Cesar Julio closing in on him, Guardado calmly slotted the ball across to the middle of the field, where Juan Carlos Cacho was waiting with an open goal in front of him. Cacho took his time and placed the ball into the back of the net to put Mexico ahead 1-0.
Brazil was quick to answer.
In the 45th minute, Ronaldinho placed the Brazilian corner kick toward the near post, where midfielder Kleber awkwardly stuck his left leg out just enough to catch the ball and redirect it into the net. It tied the score just before halftime and drew a roar from the largely pro-Brazilian crowd.
"It would have been a little more fair if we had gone into halftime with a better score," Sanchez said. "If we had the score at 1-0, it would have been more difficult for Brazil to score later."
Brazil dominated the second half, and only a few great saves kept Selecao from scoring a few more goals.
The game was physical for a friendly, as multiple players received yellow cards and Brazil's Elano received a red card in the 82nd minute for a vicious swipe at Mexico's Herardo Torrado's legs.
"In certain locations, there was excessive force," Sanchez said.
Despite his team's safe lead, Brazilian coach Dunga was ejected in the 94th minute.
After the game, Dunga was cautiously optimistic about his team's future.
"I was very pleased with the performance, but it's clear we have to correct a few things," he said. "I was very pleased how the players played their positions today, particularly with 2 v 2s and 3 v 2s."
Sanchez was also pleased with the way his team played.
"I'm happy because we played at the same level as Brazil," he said. "We want to learn from the good things Brazil does."
Brazil finished its two-game tour of the United States tonight, which started with a 4-2 victory over the United States on Sunday, and the team and its coach were pleased with its stay.
"This was a great experience," Dunga said, "particularly with so many Brazilian Americans here. It is something we will continue doing."
Updated on Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 12:12 am, EDT