Luís Fabiano stars as Brazil crush Chile 3-0
September 8, 2008 at 00:23 7 comments
Luis Fabiano - o fabuloso fabigol!
Brazil moved to 2nd in the table after an impressive 3-0 win away to Chile in Santiago. Despite the clear trepidation before the match, this was Brazil’s best performance in some time and the yellow shirts played with determination and heart as well as good deal of skill. Dunga’s team were for once reasonably well-organized and the much-maligned coach got things right tactically on the night. Another positive was the performance of forward Luís Fabiano who could have scored three or four goals. As it was, the Seville man got two and set up Robinho for his first-half strike. Fabiano might just be the front man that Brazil have been searching for to replace Ronaldo. But Brazil’s current number nine will have to curb his tendency to swing the occasional elbow.
Brazil though, remain shaky at the back and it could have been a very different story had Chile not wasted some good chances. Surprisingly, under a coach who’s supposed to be something of a disciplinarian, Brazil displayed a degree of indiscipline picking up some unnecessary cards and Kléber and Gilberto Silva will miss the Bolivia tie on Wednesday.
This was Brazil’s seventh match in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Chile, though, started the game one place and one point above Brazil.
On paper, Brazil were set up to attack with three up front: Luís Fabiano, Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Robinho; and only two defensive midfielders: Josué and Gilberto Silva. However, for large parts of the match, Gaúcho and Robinho sat well behind Fabiano. The tactic though, obviously worked and Brazil will surely start with the same formation on Wednesday vs Bolivia.
The match began at a fast pace with both teams showing purpose and creating chances. But both Chile and Brazil were also guilty of some blatant diving and there were also some rash challenges by Kléber, Diego and Marco Estrada that resulted in yellow cards early on.
Brazil’s first opportunity came when Fabiano and Robinho combined for what would have been a fabulous goal but Robinho was thwarted by Chile keeper, Claudio Bravo.
Chile really should have gone ahead on the 13th minute but somehow Suazo contrived to fire over from close range.
Brazil took the lead on the 20th after Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s free-kick was headed home by Luís Fabiano.
Dunga’s men could have been two up on 34 minutes after Diego was caught by a high foot from Marco Estrada inside the area. But Ronaldinho Gaúcho had a well-struck penalty turned away by an excellent save from Bravo.
Just before half-time, Lúcio punted a long ball down field, Fabiano won it in the air and fed Robinho and his clinical finish made it 2-0. This was the Manchester City man’s 7th goal against Chile in 5 matches.
Chile got a boost early in the second period when Kléber received a second yellow for blocking the run of Sanchez. However, the advantage lasted no more than 15 minutes as ex Palmeiras player Valdivia got himself red-carded after a reckless lunge to try to take out both Josué and Luís Fabiano.
The Seville player survived unscathed and then killed the game off late on with a low shot that beat Bravo.
Dunga made changes bringing on Elano and Jô to line up with Manchester City teammate, Robinho. Jõ had a chance to make it 4-0 but put his shot wide.
Brazil take on Bolivia at home in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Chile 0-3 Brazil
Venue: Nacional stadium, Santiago, Chile
Date: 07/09/2008
Officials (all Paraguay): Carlos Torres Assistants: Tiburcio Gauto, Manuel Bernal
Chile: Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jará, Marco Estrada, Arturo Vidal (Cereceda), Carlos Carmona, Matías Fernández, Hugo Droguett (Valdivia), Alexis Sánchez, Humberto Suazo, Mark González (Beausejour).
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Brazil: Julio César, Maicon, Lúcio, Luisão, Kléber, Gilberto Silva, Josué, Diego (Elano), Robinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Juan), Luis Fabiano (Jô).
Coach: Dunga
See the qualifying table here
See the game’s goals here highlights here
Entry filed under: Brazil squad. Tags: Brazil 3-0 Chile, Brazil x Chile, Brazilian football, Chile 0-3 Brazil, Dunga, Elano, Jô, Luís Fabiano, Manchester City, Robinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Sevilla FC, Seville.
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1. jzlim11 | September 8, 2008 at 01:13
Luis Fabiano is type of striker that Brazil is looking for. Not Pato who always off his position and wanted to do something fancy. Finally Dunga realized that 2 defensive midfielder is working now (please remember Anderson is not a good defensive midfleider). But I think Ronaldinho game is still slow and lazy. I don’t see any fast penetration run or pass from him. Diego is working really hard. and Jon you are right!! the back four still shaky. By the way, this game still far from Brazil best.
2. tim | September 8, 2008 at 14:16
brazil stepped upto the plate when it counted. the fact brazil are still not at best is frightening. fabiano may finally be the long term replacement for ronaldo…they tried so many strikers but fabiano could be the man. back four needs more discipline and concentration esp at the start of a game…however the most important ingredient in winning is luck…expectations are so high in brazil – arg drew at home and noody says anything, if it had been brazil everyone would have criticized everything from the coach to the players….i guess thats what makes brazil the best.
3. rajiv | September 8, 2008 at 14:19
WELL DONE BRAZIL! argentina are supoosed to be the best right now and have messi who is supposed to be the best and yet they drew at home…imagine if it was brazil drawing at home…there would be chaos!!! well when your the best like brazil your obliged to win every single game…..
4. Divo | September 9, 2008 at 04:19
Brazil finally got it right, I rate Chile very highly, but they couldn’t make an impression agains a solid selecao performance. Luisao and Gilberto Silva are not in my ideal line-up but they did the job.
The comment about the disciplinarian Dunga in relation to the degree of indiscipline in team seems a bit far fetched. Dunga can’t be responsible for the behaviour of his players. If you are on the pitch you are out on your own.
It’s not like Kleber has a reputation of getting a lot of cards or has a ‘reputation’. He didn’t do himself justice though, being so reckless. He should have been a lot smarter about it.
One can even argue that indisciplinary behaviour(dirty play) lets you win things if you can get away with it. Intimidation, cheating and foul play can be key elements when trying to win a game. There are no prizes for being the most moral (disciplined) team, just a fairplay award maybe. Dunga knows that too. Anyway, I am curious about Flamengo’s Juan now.
O and Roma’s Juan is much better than Luisao. And I prefer Lucas over Gilberto. Though experience counts for something.
5. jzlim11 | September 9, 2008 at 05:33
Divo, Juan is definitely better than Luisao. Brazil team always full of attacking players. But where are the good defensive players?? Espeacially the central defender. Brazilian defender always lacks of consistency and agility if compared with European players. Lucio is one of the best in the world so far but he is aging now. Lucas does has the potential. You are right he needs more experience. At the moment i still think he is too soft and slow if compared with Mascherano. You can see that from Liverpool game how Mascherano cover the back four.
6. Divo | September 9, 2008 at 07:17
Jzlim11,
I see Lucas more as a Pirlo-type, and then Josué can play like Gatusso, doing the dirty work.
Josué and Gilberto Silva are pretty much the same kind of player. They have to rely on their workrate and tactical awareness to give something extra. Lucas is more skilled and brings more style to the game and can create offensively as well.
Mascherano and Lucas would be a perfect midfield for Liverpool as far as I’m concerned, with Gerrard infront of them.
I am not saying Lucas has to be in the first 11 of the Brazil line-up but as a fan of football I like it best when Brazil turns on the style. But the match against Chile was a perfect ‘European’ Brazilian and also a great step to succes in 2010.
In a response to Brazil the talent factory I have stated that I don’t think Brazil has a shortage of defending talent.
Maybe nowadays they are more business-like. But they are still good. Alex was such a beast for PSV! (-; (I’m from Holland)
7. mzila | March 25, 2010 at 14:13
Brasil is the best football squad around the globe,Hey divo what is important between attarking and deffending,there is no need to criticise Brasil bcs they have all key elements of wining a game