Brazil trounce Uruguay 4-0 – watch the goals/highlights

Juan and Kaká on target for Brazil

Brazil ended 33 years without a win against Uruguay in Montevideo with a thumping 4-0 victory on Saturday. Daniel Alves, Juan, Luís Fabiano and Kaká were all on the score sheet in a result that left Brazil temporarily top of the table. Once again, it wasn’t a great performance from Brazil and Dunga’s men had to thank their brilliant keeper, Júlio César, for stopping everything Uruguay threw at him. At the other end, Brazil were also helped by some slapdash keeping from Sebastián Viera who was responsible for two of the yellow and green’s goals. The only sour note for Brazil was the sending-off of Luís Fabiano who will now miss Wednesday’s match vs Paraguay in Recife.

The game

Both sides struggled to make an early impression and for the 10 minutes neither keeper had anything to do.

But then on the 11^th minute, Daniel Alves hit a speculative effort from 40 metres out. Uruguay keeper, Sebastián Viera, made a complete hash of the shot and Brazil were in front with the first chance of the game.

Moments later, Uruguay had the ball in the back of the net but Pérez was clearly offside.

Brazil found themselves under increasing pressure as Uruguay began to rain in shots on Júlio César. Dunga’s men struggled to get the ball out of their own half and Uruguay came close with a glancing header from Eguren. 

Júlio César was again called into action after he turned away a Luis Suárez free-kick.

With their frontmen dropping further back, Brazil were guilty of playing a containment game, which only lead to more goal-scoring opportunities for Oscar Tabárez’s side.

But after weathering the storm, Brazil enjoyed a spell of possession and Luís Fabiano had a penalty appeal turned down when he was caught in the area.

However, Brazil went two up on the 35^th minute when an unmarked Juan headed home from close range. 

Three minutes later, Uruguay thought they were back in it when Alvaro Pereira was one to one with Júlio César. But the Brazil keeper made a brilliant stop from Pereira’s very well struck shot.

In the second-half, Brazil had an early chance with a long-range free-kick from Elano. And then six minutes in, the contest was effectively over when Luís Fabiano got behind the Uruguay backline and rifled in an unstoppable shot past Viera. 

The Seville man almost got his second on the 59^th minute but this time was denied by a good stop from Viera.

Just as it seemed Brazil and in particular, Luís Fabiano, were certain to get more goals, the number nine got himself sent off for a second yellow after referee Saúl Laverni decided that he had dived in the area.  

Dunga made a quick change by bringing on Benfica’s new signing, Ramires, in place of Elano. Within a minute of coming on, the debut boy almost struck but pulled his shot wide.

Brazil finally got a penalty after Kaká went down under a challenge from Diego Godin. The AC Milan/Real Madrid player made no mistake from the spot kick.

With the game drawing to a close, Maximiliano Pereira was red-carded after booting Ramires.  

The 4-0 score perhaps flattered Brazil who for the most part looked ordinary going forward and vulnerable at the back. The defence was slow and flat-footed and coughed up chance after chance to Uruguay. The difference on Saturday was that Brazil took their chances. More importantly, it was the string of fine saves from the excellent Júlio César that kept Uruguay at bay. After another fabulous performance, the Inter Milan man must now rank amongst the world’s top keepers.

Brazil are next in action when they take on Paraguay in Recife on Wednesday.

See the goals here – highlights here

Uruguay 0-4 Brazil

Date: 6 June 2009

Venue: estádio Centenário, Montevideo, Uruguay

Referees: Saúl Laverni, Assistants: Gustavo Esquivel, Ariel Bustos (all Argentina)

Uruguay: Viera, Maxi Pereira, Valdez, Godín (Cavani), Martín Cáceres, Jorge Martínez, Diego Pérez, Eguren, Alvaro Pereira (Alvaro Fernández), Suárez, Forlán

Coach: Oscar Tabárez

Brazil: Julio César, Daniel Alves, Lúcio, Juan, Kleber, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Elano, Kaká (Josué), Robinho (Julio Baptista), Luis Fabiano

Coach: Dunga

Goals: Daniel Alves, 11; Juan, 35; Luis Fabiano, 52; Kaká, 74

Yellows: Valdez, Eguren (URU). Reds: Luis Fabiano (BRA), Maxi Pereira (URU).

Attendance: 52,000

See the South America group table and the rest of the round 13 results here