Brazil blot Argentine record

Uruguay’s progress toward the 2002 World Cup was slowed when they were held to a goaless draw in Montevideo by a defiant Peru, who had lost their previous three games. Afterwards, Uruguay coach Daniel Passarella launched an astonishing attack on his opponents.

Argentina stayed top of the group with 15 points, while Brazil moved into second place on 11 points, ahead of Uruguay on goals scored. Colombia and Paraguay have nine points and Peru stayed in eighth place with five.

Brazilians had feared the worst against Argentina in Sao Paulo, after their team suffered a shock defeat in Paraguay last week.

Brazil’s form, with two wins, two draws and one defeat, had been a stark contrast to the rampant Argentines, who had swept aside all before them.

Coach Wanderley Luxemburgo, in particular, had been under fire for constantly chopping and changing the team.

He had become so unpopular that Brazilian soccer bosses advised him to wear a track suit instead of one of his trade mark designer suits for the game to bring him “closer to the public.” Luxemburgo declined and was immaculately turned out as usual.

Alex gave the Brazilians a perfect start with a sixth minute goal, while mid-fielder Vampeta was the hero by scoring the other two.

Striker Ronaldinho Gaucho was involved in both Vampeta goals and was a constant torment for Argentina, provoking them so much that at one stage Argentine mid-fielder Diego Simeone was seen to put his hand around the Brazilian’s neck.

Alex, one of six changes to the team which lost in Asuncion last week, headed home in the sixth minute as he took advantage of unusually slack Argentine marking.

Vampeta’s first goal in the 45th minute came in a move which he started on the edge of his own penalty area, continued by playing a one-two with Ronaldinho and then feeding Alex, and finished by shooting home the rebound from Alex’s shot.

Matias Almeida pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time from a Hernan crespo flick, but six minutes after the break Vampeta scored again when he fired home from a chance cleverly set up with a subtle pass by Ronalindho.

The two great rivals were meeting in a World Cup qualifier for the first time and produced a typically hotly contested match with nearly 50 fouls, most of them committed by Brazil.

Uruguay dominated most of the action in Montevideo, but failed to get find a way past a stubborn Peru defence.

It was clear that it would not be their night when Alvaro Recoba and then Gianni Guigou both missed two gilted-edged chances early in the second half. Uruguay had also come close in the 22nd minute when Peru defender Juan Pajuelo fired the ball onto his own crossbar.

Peru, who badly needed a good result, were missing five key players through either injury or suspenion.

Uruguay’s Argentine coach Passarella accused Peru of not playing ball and time-wasting.

“I have never seen a Peruvian team do what they did, it was a disgrace,” he said. “We were unlucky, we missed a lot of chances,” said Passarella, whose own team made blatant use of time-wasting tactics in a previous draw away to Brazil.