Soccer: Brazil get World Cup boost

Luizao scored the only goal of the game as Brazil gave their World Cup hopes a boost with a victory over Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro.

But the biggest cheer of the night from the 57,000 fans was for the return of superstar striker Ronaldo, who started his first international for two years.

The Inter Milan forward played for the opening 45 minutes in his bid to seal a place in the World Cup squad.

Ronaldo showed a lack of match-fitness but wowed the fans with some glorious touches.

He was replaced at half-time by Luizao, who scored the winner with a header 18 minutes from time.

Sheffield United’s Patrick Suffo nodded a late equaliser as Cameroon battled back for a 2-2 draw against Argentina in Switzerland.

Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron with a penalty and Pablo Aimar had twice given England’s World Cup ‘Group of Death’ rivals the lead.

But Samuel Eto’o and super sub Suffo one of the three players sent off in the recent ‘Battle of Bramall Lane’ ensured Argentina did not gain revenge for their famous defeat to the Indomitable Lions in the opening match of Italia 90.

Rangers striker Claudio Caniggia continued his return from the international wilderness to win his 50th cap, while Rigobert Song captained Cameroon, who are in the Republic of Ireland’s group.

Sweden, who along with Nigeria make up England’s Group F, drew 1-1 against Switzerland with Everton winger Jesper Blomqvist marking his international comeback by setting up his side’s goal for Marcus Allback in the 29th minute.

Blomqvist, one of the few remaining Swedish players from the side which finished third at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, has only recently returned from serious knee and ankle injuries.

The Swiss imposed themselves on the game in the second half and drew level after 54 minutes, Ricardo Cabanas the man on target with a header.

Germany, another of Ireland’s first-round opponents, beat the United States 4-2 in Rostock despite falling behind to an 17th-minute opener from Clint Mathis.

Tottenham’s Christian Ziege, Oliver Neuville, Oliver Bierhoff and Torsten Frings all netted to put the Germans 4-1 up by the 68th minute before Mathis’ second of the night proved to be merely a consolation.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam also made a return to the international scene, this time following his suspension for testing positive for nandrolone.

However it was Frank De Boer, another player previously banned after failing a drugs test, who scored the winner in their 1-0 win over Spain.

Rangers striker Tore Andre Flo limped out of the goalless draw with World Cup qualifiers Tunisia after suffering a thigh injury.

Flo collided with Tunisian goalkeeper El Ouaer midway through the first half and coach Nils Johan Semb decided to take him off.

Up to that point the Rangers frontman had looked lively as the sole striker, although he missed a good chance after only seven minutes then hit the post just before he was forced off.

Liverpool striker Jari Litmanen scored twice as Finland took Portugal apart 4-1 in Porto.

Joonas Kolkka and Chelsea’s Mikael Forssell put the Finns two up inside the first half hour before Sergio Conceicao pulled one back for the hosts.

Litmanen then scored either side of the half-time interval to derail the World Cup preparations of the Euro 2000 semi-finalists.

World Cup co-hosts Japan kept their preparations for the tournament firmly on track with an impressive 2-0 victory over a strong Poland side in Lodz.

Goals from Parma star Hidetoshi Nakata and Naohiro Takahara gave Philippe Troussier’s side a superb morale-boosting win against the team who were the first to qualify for the World Cup from competitive qualifiers.

South Africa’s World Cup preparations suffered another setback with a 4-1 thrashing by Georgia.

With just over two months to the showpiece tournament in Japan and Korea, newly-appointed Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono watched his side implode with Leslie Manyathela and Thabang Molefe sent off.

Croatia fielded veteran strikers Davor Suker and Middlesbrough’s Alen Boksic, along with Portsmouth’s ageing midfielder Robert Prosinecki, but it did little to prevent a virtually impotent attacking display in their goalless draw with Slovenia.