E-Paper
Brazil win with last-minute strike
A last-minute goal by Fabiano gave an under-strength Brazil a 1-0 in over Chile in their opening Copa America game.
A last-minute goal by Luis Fabiano was enough to give an under-strength, lacklustre Brazil team a 1-0 win over Chile on Thursday in their opening Copa America Group C game.
The Sao Paulo striker rose above the defence to score his fourth goal in five internationals after Chile had earlier squandered a twice-taken penalty, Sebastian Gonzalez converting the first attempt but failing when the referee ordered a retake.
Chile's fast counter-attacking style caused problems for a hesitant Brazil throughout and a draw might have been a fairer result.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has rested his top players -- including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Cafu -- for the Copa and their pretenders often showed their lack of experience and understanding.
The world champions passed the ball comfortably at first but were limited to long-range shots by Adriano and Gustavo Nery, both saved by Alex Varas.
Brazil then had a lucky escape when Arsenal midfielder Edu tripped Rodrigo Valenzuela to give away the penalty midway through the first half.
Gonzalez fired an unstoppable shot past Julio Cesar, but Mexican referee Marco Gonzalez ruled that Chilean players had encroached into the area.
Seemingly distracted, Gonzalez blasted his second attempt over the bar.
Chile looked increasingly dangerous on the break and Valenzuela posed a constant threat. Once such break ended in a powerful shot by Rodrigo Perez, which almost beat goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
The largely local crowd packing Arequipa's picturesque UNSA stadium grew impatient with Brazil's ponderous approach and some even began to switch their allegiance to the Chileans -- usually unpopular among Peruvians with whom they share a long-standing rivalry.
With time running out, Luis Fabiano popped up to head home a corner taken by Alex.
The win puts Brazil level on three points with Paraguay, who beat Costa Rica 1-0 in Thursday's earlier game.
