Samba Boys sink Azzurri

THREE goals in seven minutes helped Brazil dump world champions Italy out of the Confederations Cup with a convincing victory in Pretoria last night.

Luis Fabiano was the star for the South Americans, scoring twice to set them on their way, before an own goal from Liverpool’s Andrea Dossena in first-half stoppage time sealed an emphatic victory.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and England coach Fabio Capello were just two of the high profile spectators among the 40,000 plus crowd at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to watch two of world football’s heavyweights clash in a must-win encounter for the Azzurri, who face Ireland in a vital World Cup qualifier in Croke Park in the autumn.

Both came out with attacking intent and it was the Italians that strung together the first meaningful attack down the right with Mauro Camoranesi whipping in a dangerous looking ball that needed a last-ditch interception from Lucio.

Andrea Pirlo followed that up with a good corner that saw Riccardo Montolivo rise highest to meet it with his head, only for the finish to fly over.

At the other end, Ramires should have done better than hit the post with his angled shot from the right after being played in nicely by Luis Fabiano.

Kaka then saw his long-range strike well blocked by Fabio Cannavaro, before Robinho finally hit the target, with his shot comfortably gathered by Gianluigi Buffon.

The South Americans continued to press forward and had another half chance on 15 minutes when Kaka’s defence-splitting pass set Luis Fabiano on his way, but he was beaten to the ball by the Italian goalkeeper.

Brazil coach Dunga was forced into an early change after an injury to Juan with Luisao introduced and the change almost produced a goal for the opposition with the ball coming to Camoranesi, who sent in a dipping 18-yard shot that flew inches over the Brazilian crossbar.

But the South Americans still looked good going forward as Maicon floated in a neat pass onto the head of Luis Fabiano that was again wastefully off target. Lucio was denied shortly after the half-hour mark – the Bayern Munich defender leaving two defenders stranded on the left only to see his shot deflect off Daniele De Rossi and onto the upright.

But the deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute when Maicon cut inside from the right and slid a pass through to Luis Fabiano, who turned Giorgio Chiellini and finished low beyond Buffon.

It was 2-0 six minutes later after another quick breakaway saw Robinho and Kaka exchange passes, before the former dummied the ball for the Sevilla frontman to tap home.

The scoreline looked even more emphatic going into the break after the Manchester City forward was sent flying down the left by Kaka and his intended cross to Ramires was turned into his own goal by Dossena to leave the world champions 3-0 down at the break.

The game was much slower after the restart with Italy, in search of a comeback goal, failing to create any clear-cut openings.

That was until the 63rd minute when substitute Simon Pepe was played in, but he miscued his effort as the chance went begging.

Another flowing move followed with Pirlo and Alberto Gilardino drawing decent saves out of Julio Cesar as Marcello Lippi’s team finally looked more threatening.

At the other end, Kaka and Robinho again combined with the new Real Madrid signing curling his 18-yard strike inches wide.

Despite pressing forward, the closest the Italians came to scoring was when a rush of blood to the head of Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saw him rush off the line, but Pepe saw his effort blocked.

The defeat and the USA’s 3-0 win against Egypt saw the US advance by virtue of scoring one more goal than the Azzurri.