Brazil 3-0 Peru

Luís Fabiano scores a brace against mighty Peru

Brazil went second in the South America qualifying group after labouring to a 3-0 win over lowly Peru in Porto Alegre.

Two goals from Seville’s Luís Fabiano and a strike from the much criticised Felipe Melo were enough to see off a Peru side that rarely troubled Júlio César in the Brazil goal.

Without impressing at any point in the game, Brazil didn’t have to break sweat against the league’s bottom side. But the win was valuable as Dunga’s team are now just three points behind leaders Paraguay.

The starting line-up didn’t exactly set the pulse racing. Of course Kaká was back but so were Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva and Elano. There was no place for Ronaldinho Gaúcho who was apparently deemed not fit enough. Despite being at home, Dunga remained cautious. After all, it was bottom of the table Peru and they might spring a surprise. Kléber’s inclusion at leftback in place of Real Madrid’s Marcelo was almost certainly a concession for the Internacional fans although there were still thousands of empty seats in the estádio Beira-Rio.  

The game got off to a scrappy start with long-range efforts from both teams well off target.

The first real threat came 7 minutes in, when Luís Fabiano beat the defence and sent the ball across the face of the goal but no one in yellow was there to prod home.

For the second game in a row, Dunga was forced to make an early change when the injured centreback, Luisão, was replaced by São Paulo’s Miranda.

Brazil got the inevitable breakthrough on 16 minutes when Kaká went down in the area under a challenge by Zambrano – replays appeared to show that the defender may have got a touch on the ball. Luís Fabiano slotted the spotkick away – but only just – for Brazil’s first goal in the WC at home since November 2007

Dunga’s men could have made it 2-0 moments later but Robinho fired over from close range.

26 minutes in, Luís Fabiano did score and the game was over. The Seville man was just offside but the goal stood.

While the second goal effectively guaranteed Brazil the points, the fans inside the stadium remained unsatisfied and were soon calling for Alexandre Pato.

Dunga, though, resisted as Brazil controlled the midfield and were able to stroll through Peru’s first line of defence with perfect ease.

The team in yellow almost had another when just before half-time, Elano broke down the right but his effort was saved well by Leao Butrón.

Brazil huffed and puffed early in the second-period but without any end product. It wasn’t until 10 minutes in that Robinho managed to put a shot anywhere near goal. The Manchester City man was having another off-day and was soon getting it in the neck for every attempted dribble that went wrong.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Brazil were still having problems making in-roads. But then Felipe Melo stuck two fingers up to his critics by finishing off a powerful run with a fine chip.

Peru almost got one back direct from the kick off. Fano broke forward but Júlio César just managed to tip the striker’s shot onto the bar.

Finally, Dunga bowed to pressure from the increasingly exasperated Brazil fans and brought on Alexandre Pato for the out-of-sorts, Robinho.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho then replaced Elano and Brazil began to look like a more attractive side – at least on paper – though by this time the chances had dried up.

An expected three points for Brazil and Dunga will say it was a job well done. But his side made heavy work of beating the group’s bottom side and had a slice of fortune with the first two goals. Kaká didn’t play particularly well – in fact, no one did – but his presence was enough to lift Brazil. But if Kaká’s not fit for the away clash against Uruguay in June, Brazil will find it a little tougher in Montevideo.  

See the highlights here

See the round 12 table and the rest of the results here