ACTUALITE |
15.11.2001
Brazil keep record intact
Brazil are through to next year`s World Cup finals after a comfortable 3-0 win over Venzuela in Sao Luis.
They only country to have played in every World Cup tournament kept that record intact despite a troubled and unconvincing qualifying campaign.
The four-time winners needed a win on Wednesday to guarantee a top-four place in the South American qualifying group and avoid a play-off with Australia.
Brazil are in the World Cup - not in the manner we would have wanted, but we have got there
A showdown against the Socceroos never looked likely after striker Luizao scored twice in the first 20 minutes.
Barcelona marksman Rivaldo added the third goal in the 35th minute.
The visitors then had captain Luis Vera sent off for elbowing former Middlesbrough playmaker Juninho in the 48th minute.
Brazil have used four coaches and lost six matches en route to the 2002 finals in Korea and Japan.
Hammered
"We suffered for 17 games and I thank the Brazilians who suffered with us," said full-back Roberto Carlos.
Captain Emerson Ferreira said: "We still have to improve a lot - we are aware of it. Now we have to work."
Brazil`s win lifted them to third, ahead of fourth-placed Paraguay on goal difference.
The Paraguayans were hammered 4-0 at home by Colombia, who ended their campaign in a disappointing sixth position.
Victor Hugo Aristizabal hit a hat-trick for the visitors, grabbing his first in the 25th minute and second from the penalty spot 10 minutes later.
His third came in the 63rd minute, and Rafael Castillo added a fourth for the Copa American champions five minutes from time.
Uruguay kept their qualifying hopes alive by drawing 1-1 with Argentina to clinch fifth place and advancing to face Australia.
Cancelled out
They will meet in a two-leg play-off, on 20 and 25 November, for one of the last two spots in South Korea and Japan.
An 18th-minute goal from Uruguay`s Dario Silva was cancelled out by Claudio Lopez`s 44th-minute strike in Montevideo`s Centenario stadium.
The draw left Uruguay, who have not reached the World Cup finals for 12 years, just ahead of Colombia on goal difference.
Ecuador, who finished second behind runaway group winners Argentina, played out a 0-0 draw with Chile in Santiago.
In a meaningless game in Lima, Peru and Bolivia drew 1-1.
Peru went ahead in the eighth minute when striker Piero Alva headed home from a Roberto Palacios pass.
The visitors salvaged a point with just two minutes when Milton Coimbra sent a looping header over stranded keeper Miguel Miranda.
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