The yellow army of Neymar sparked like the “Charges of the Light Brigade” and hopped over Messi Squad at birds nest in Beijing much to the delight of their adoring fans all over the world. Two majestic goals from Diego Tardelli, his first and second in Brazil color got better of Argentina in an action packed friendly match played yesterday. After initial 15-20 minutes when Messi, Di Maria and co appeared to run away with the match it was Selecaos which dominated. At the end of the match Argentines can definitely consider them lucky not to be embarrassed with higher margin as Neymar and co missed many easy opportunities. Messi magic excepting few lightning passes were missing. His free kicks were off target. He even failed to convert a goal. Di Maria did lot of running but no avail. The new hero Tardelli struck two blows and won it for Selecaos. Overall better team of the day deservedly won 2-0.
What a reverse. Brazil was humiliated by World Champions Germany in the semifinal of the world cup 1-7 in not too distant past. Germany went on beating Argentina in the final. Back to back win against two fancied South American sides in their own backyard established German superiority in World Soccer. Brazil and Argentina started regrouping under new team management. But hardly after few months, Argentina overwhelmed Germany 4-2 in a friendly match which Argentines played without their superstar Messi. Brazil in the meantime beat their neighbors Ecuador and Columbia -barest of margin in both cases.
Those who thought Brazilian football will take a while to bounce back possibly failed to realize that earthquakes and Tsunamis do not happen every other day. History and tradition always matters. Class is permanent which Brazilians have started proving.
The rejuvenated Dunga brigade overwhelmed Gerardo Martino's side 2-0. Albicelestes (sky blue and whites) played a disappointing game and were lucky enough to escape with a 2-0 loss after Brazil missed plenty of goal scoring opportunities.
First Half:
The match was kicked off in brisk fashion with Argentina looking to seize the momentum at the early stage. Mascherano, Di Maria; Aguero, Messi, were trading passes at lightning speed and were trying to catch Brazilian defense off guard. Waves of Argentine attacks started striking deep into Brazil defense which also stood firm like the rock of Gibraltar. Danilo, Miranda, David Luiz, Filipe all were quick in anticipation and clearance each time Argentine attacks threatened. Messi and Di Maria made few attempts but most of these went off the mark.
Brazil gradually settled into their grooves and started punching back cohesively. After series of squandered half chances of Aguero and Di Maria and couple of wasted free kicks of Messi Brazil made the first potent counter attack through Neymar in 23rd minute. But he was dispossessed and brought down following a rough challenge but the referee tried to play the advantage. It resulted in Brazil winning a corner which, after being played short, was clipped in by Oscar but his deflected cross is headed away from goal by Luiz Gustavo.
Tide started turning as Brazil recovered the momentum. The first goal came in the process. On the 28th minute Zabaleta and Fernandez attempted to clear Oscar's cross from the right, but the Swansea City man's header dropped to Tardelli behind him. The Atletico Mineiro forward let it drop and sent a strike towards the far corner on the volley. It bounced next to Romero and he was unable to get a hand to it and stop it from finding the back of the net. Brazil shot into the lead 1-0. The first of Tradelli in Brazil color. Perhaps the beginning of many to follow.
Spurred by this success Brazil started looking altogether a different side. They could have gone two up in the 32nd minute when Neymar miss added to the frustration! That should have been goal no.2 for Brazil. With a brilliant counterattack Neymar darted through the center to go one-on-one with Romero. He committed the keeper with a touch but the Barcelona man failed in his attempt to pass the ball into the far corner, missing the target. Neymar whizzed past the defence into the area in the 36th minute but before he could deliver Mascherano came in to rescue and made the all-important block.
On 40th minute Argentina was awarded a PENALTY. Di Maria was brought down inside the box by Danilo, and the right-back was shown a yellow card. The Brazilian players swarmed upon the referee in protest but the decision stayed. It looked like timed the tackle well and got to the ball, so a controversial decision. Of all people Messi failed to convert. Definitely the day did not belong to him.
The Selecao was leading in the Superclasico de las Americas at the half time, after a Diego Tardelli's volley. Messi missed penalty for an equalizer. La Albiceleste started well but faded as the half went on.
Second Half:
Brazil looked much better side by now playing with more purpose and planning. They were putting pressure on the Argentine defense in what appeared a one-way attack. On 48 th minute Brazil should have doubled the margin as Neymar slipped a lovely ball between Zabaleta and Fernandez for Filipe, and the left-back thumped a shot towards goal. He sliced it somewhat, though, and the ball flashed high of the target and out of play. On 59th minute a cruising Neymar was fouled Oscar whipped the free kick with pace into the area in front of the keeper. Elias ran across it and ducked beneath the ball but Romero reacted well to dive to his left and got his hands on the attempt to keep it out of the corner.
Brazil got its second goal on the 64th minute. Argentina was punished for poor clearance. Oscar whipped in one from the corner. David Luiz got across to flick it on and Tardelli was left unmarked to head it in at the back post! Romero got his hand to the ball but could only bat it onto the post as it made its way into the back of the net. Brazil went 2-0 up.
On 68th minute Messi picked up the ball with his back to goal and turned Oscar as he ran off towards the left. He decided to have a go from 20 yards but he failed to squeeze a shot past Jefferson at his near post.
On 81st minute Neymar ran past the Argentine defense and attempted to clip a shot over the head of Romero but failed. NEYMAR! Almost a third in the 3rd minute of added time. Kaka fed William and the Chelsea man raced to the byline. He eventually cut it back to Neymar and the Barcelona man worked space for a shot. However, he aimed it too close to Romero who blocked it with a dive to his right.
It was not absolutely one way traffic. Argentina engineered few isolated moves and had even share of ball possessions .But their attacks lost way reaching Brazilian deep defense. Messi was not in his elements. On the other hand all Brazilian moves had greater punch and every time they attacked they looked like scoring. Argentina was distinctly lucky not have left the match in greater humiliation of more goals.
After Brazil’s ignominious exit at the semifinal of the World Cup in their own backyard -bruised and battered many felt it will take a while to absorb the shock. Our Journalist friend Jahid Newaz Jewel was optimistic that it was only a one off in a millennium. I value Jewel for his very incisive comments and observations.
Under its world cup winning hero Dunga the team is looking better and brighter with every match they are playing. They are building for World Cup 2018. One can never write off a team so early which has a tradition of turning history in their favor. The worldwide Yellow Army fans will soon see them again in Tokyo against Japan in another friendly match. Argentina must find a way of scoring goals. A team can dominate most of a game but if they cannot score they do not win. After all goals are what matters.
Lineups: Brazil (4-2-3-1): Jefferson; Danilo, Miranda, David Luiz, Filipe; Luiz Gustavo, Elias; Willian, Oscar, Neymar ( Robinho) ; Diego Tardelli ( Kaka)
Argentina (4–3-3): Romero; Zabaleta, Fernandez, Demichelis, Rojo; Pereyra, Mascherano, Di Maria; Aguero (Javier Pastore) , Messi, Lamela.( Gonzalo Higuain).
** Brazil 2-0 Argentina
BDST: 1008 HRS, OCT 12, 2014
