The Hindu : Sport : Robinho inspires Brazil

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Tuesday, Jul 03, 2007
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Sport

Robinho inspires Brazil

FOOTBALL / Mexico posts second straight win

— Photo: AP

HAT-TRICK HERO: Robinho, embraced by Juan, slotted in Brazil’s all three goals against Chile on Sunday.

Maracaibo: Mexico beat Ecuador 2-1 on Sunday for its second straight win and became the first team to assure itself of a place in the Copa America quarterfinals, while Robinho scored three and put Brazil back on course with a 3-0 victory over Chile.

Nery Castillo scored for the second consecutive match for Mexico, which led 2-0 by the 80th minute.

Robinho converted a first-half penalty and added two more late goals for an unconvincing Brazil, which recovered from an opening 2-0 loss to Mexico.

Mexico’s win puts it atop Group B with one game remaining, against Chile, and guarantees it one of the quarterfinal spots reserved for the two-best third place finishers of the three groups.

Castillo, who also scored in El Tri’s 2-0 victory over defending champion Brazil in the tournament opener on Wednesday, again was the key to Mexico’s attack.

After Rafael Marquez sent the ball out of his own half, the Olympiakos midfielder eluded charging Ecuadorean keeper Cristian Mora before easily tapping in Mexico’s first goal in the 22nd minute. Omar Bravo added a header in the 80th minute to double the lead.

Ecuador cut the lead in half five minutes later when a driving shot from outside the area by Edison Mendez deflected off the foot of a Mexican defender and slid inside the left post.

Despite being winless, Ecuador’s hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals, and consolidating the strong play that’s led it to the past two World Cups, remain alive with a victory over Brazil in its final group match on Wednesday and help needed from some other results.

Robinho dazzled against Chile, but the rest of the young Brazilian squad — lacking several well-known regulars like Ronaldinho and Kaka — still struggled. Robinho’s first goal was on a disputed penalty.

But the Real Madrid striker doubled the lead in the 83rd, chipping a cross over goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, and sealed the victory four minutes later, beating Chile’s defence.

The results: Copa America: Brazil 3 (Robinho-pen 3) bt Chile 0; Mexico 2 (Castillo, Bravo) bt Ecuador 1 (Mendez). — Agencies