Thursday, July 14, 2011

Pato and Neymar lead Brazil to last eight



Alexandre Pato and Neymar scored two goals apiece as Brazil beat Ecuador 4-2 in Cordoba to set up a quarter-final against Paraguay.

Brazil lit up the game at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium with a fine headed goal by AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato from Andre Santos's good left cross.

But Ecuador big striker Caicedo found space to shoot from the edge of the penalty area and the ball squeezed in under goalkeeper Julio Cesar for the equaliser.

Into the second half Brazil regained the lead as Neymar who scored in the top corner after Paulo Henrique Ganso took a ball with his back to goal, turned and slotted it through to him. But once again the lead was short-lived as another Caicedo shot from outside the box found its way past Julio Cesar in the 58th minute.

Ecuador Goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga could not hold onto a Neymar shot and Pato pounced on the loose ball to make it 3-2 on the hour mark and then, 11 minutes later, Neymar notched his second after good play on the right by Maicon and Robinho.

The result left Brazil top of the group ahead of surprise package Venezuela, who will play Chile in the quarter finals, who drew 3-3 against third placed Paraguay, with Ecuador bottom of the pile.

Brazil 4-2 Ecuador, Highlights:


Lineups:

Brazil: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos; Lucas Leiva, Ramires, Ganso (Elias '76); Robinho, Pato (Fred '84), Neymar (Lucas Moura '79).

Ecuador: Marcelo Elizaga; Neicer Reasco (Gabriel Achilier '81), Norberto Araujo, Frickson Erazo, Walter Ayoví; Oswaldo Minda, Christian Noboa (Edson Montaño '89), Michael Arroyo, Edison Méndez (Narciso Mina '76); Christian Benítez, Geovanny Caicedo.




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