GOIANIA, Brazil: Neymar converted a penalty with the final kick of the match to hand Brazil a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Argentina in a friendly international at the Serra Dourada in Goiania on Wednesday.
The penalty, awarded for a handball by Argentina defender Leandro Desabato, turned chants from local fans against Brazil coach Mano Menezes into joyful celebration at the late victory.
Fans called for the return of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning coach Luis Felipe Scolari, unhappy with the trouble Menezes’ team with several first choice players were having in creating chances against a second-string Argentina.
The match was the first of two between teams drawn only from the domestic leagues of two great South American rivals. They meet again in the northern Argentine city of Resistencia on Oct. 3.
Menezes told reporters he had no complaints with the fans and said they had only expressed their disapproval after he brought off Sao Paulo’s Lucas, who had been playing well, for tactical reasons.
“The fans have their preferences but my job is to try to make the national team improve and it did and that’s how we got a victory in the end,” he said.
Neymar said: “I don’t think you should jeer during the game, you’ve got to wait till it’s over. No one likes to be jeered, no one likes to be criticized, that’s why we give our best (possible) on the field.” Argentina, on the back foot for the opening 20 minutes, went ahead in their first dangerous incursion into the Brazil penalty area.
Striker Juan Manuel Martinez, who plays in Brazil for Corinthians, passed out wide to Clemente Rodriguez before racing into the box to collect the left back’s cross and beating goalkeeper Jefferson with a shot inside the near post.
Brazil equalized six minutes later from a free kick taken by Neymar on the right with midfielder Paulinho offside according to television replays when he moved forward to head past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
“It was a lovely move,” Martinez told a television reporter on the pitch about Argentina’s goal.
“Desabato was fouled in the penalty incident. Anyway, we played well, with an intelligent game plan against a great team. (Brazil) didn’t create clear chances.” It was Brazil’s second win in four meetings with Alejandro Sabella’s Argentina.
Last year in matches between home-based selections, the rivals drew 0-0 in Argentina with Brazil winning the return fixture 2-0.
Argentina won 4-3 in a friendly in New Jersey between the full national sides in June courtesy of a Lionel Messi hat trick.
The full Brazil team were also beaten by Argentina 1-0 in Qatar in November 2010 shortly after Menezes was appointed to build a team capable of winning the World Cup at home in 2014, something many fans now doubt.
The pressure has grown on Menezes since his Olympic team failed to win Brazil’s first soccer gold medal when they were upset by Mexico in the London Games final in August.
“Big Phil” Scolari is out of work having quit Palmeiras last week with the team in the Brazilian championship relegation zone.
Brazil beats Argentina 2-1 with last-gasp penalty
Brazil beats Argentina 2-1 with last-gasp penalty
Rybakina has little hope of change to tennis schedule
- Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Friday she agreed with Aryna Sabalenka’s description of the tennis schedule as “insane” — but does not see it changing
BRISBANE: Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Friday she agreed with Aryna Sabalenka’s description of the tennis schedule as “insane” — but does not see it changing.
Speaking after her surprise loss to Karolina Muchova in the Brisbane International, world number five Rybakina said Sabalenka’s criticism of the packed WTA Tour calendar was correct.
WTA rules stipulate that top players must play all four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 events and six WTA 500 tournaments, unless they have a valid reason such as injury.
Players who don’t meet these requirements risk being fined.
Sabalenka said Thursday that she was prepared to be punished by the WTA in order to rest her body and not risk injury.
“The season is definitely insane,” four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said.
Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka to win last year’s season-ending WTA Finals, said players should be able to choose their schedules more freely.
“We all want to have more freedom of choosing what to play, what not to play,” said the Moscow-born Kazakh, the 2022 Wimbledon winner.
“You’re kind of forced to play most of the tournaments, so it is not ideal.
“You don’t need to force anyone to play so many tournaments since it’s so tough on the body.
“It’s not easy to show the same good results, be healthy all the time.
“But it’s a topic which we have had for a long time, and I don’t see much changing.”
The WTA told AFP in October that “athlete welfare is always a top priority.”
