Magic Messi swoops as Argentina steal win over Brazil

A LIONEL MESSI wonder goal saw Argentina narrowly edge out Brazil 1-0 in last night’s friendly international in Doha to register their first win over their arch-rivals in five years.

Messi settled an even contest in the final minute, the Barcelona star picking up Ezequiel Lavezzi’s pass before slaloming past four defenders and stroking the ball home into the corner of the net.

AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho, back in the Brazil squad for the first time in 19 months, enjoyed a solid performance on his return to the team but failed to cap it with a goal as Sergio Romero enjoyed a good night in the Argentina goal.

Belgium eased to a 2-0 win over Ireland’s Group B rivals Russia in Voronezh.

Romelu Lukaku proved the difference between the two sides with a goal in each half, first tapping home after two minutes when Eden Hazard dispossessed Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and centred for the Anderlecht striker.

Lukaku added his second 17 minutes from time with a low drive from just inside the area.

A late penalty from Rory Patterson spared Northern Ireland’s blushes in a low-key friendly against Morocco tonight.

The North’s ‘keeper Alan Blayney handed the visitors the lead on a wet and windy night at Windsor Park when he failed to control a back pass and his clearance rebounded into the net off Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh.

Sweden and Germany ground out a yawn-inducing draw in Gothenburg.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored the only goal as Holland defeated Turkey in a friendly international in Amsterdam.

Huntelaar struck after 52 minutes when he found the net from the edge of the area.

An own goal from Ciprian Marica handed Italy a 1-1 draw in a friendly international against Romania in Austria. Marica had earlier given Romania the lead in a game marred by racist chanting against Mario Balotelli.

Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic proved the difference as Serbia posted a 1-0 win over Bulgaria, the giant striker firing home from inside the area 10 minutes from time.

Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Slovakia 3-2 in an entertaining encounter in Bratislava while Roque Santa Cruz scored twice as Paraguay crushed Hong Kong 7-0.

Former Birmingham and Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell helped himself to a hat-trick as Finland picked up their first points of their European Championship qualifying campaign with an 8-0 hammering of fellow Group E strugglers San Marino.

Two goals from Tottenham midfielder Nico Kranjcar and another from Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic moved Croatia to the top of Group F with a 3-0 victory over Malta.

Tottenham midfielder Kranjcar opened the scoring in the 17th minute and doubled the lead four minutes before the interval at Zagreb’s Stadion Maksimir, with substitute Kalinic rounding off the win nine minutes from time.

The victory takes Croatia above Greece to pole position in the group after four matches, while Malta remain pointless.