Fabiano scores twice as Brazil pip Uruguay 2-1

Fabiano scored just before half-time and added a second in the 64th minute to give Brazil eight points after four rounds.

Brazil, the South American champions, are tied for third in qualifying at eight points with Colombia, two behind Paraguay and one behind Argentina. The top four teams qualify for the 2010 World Cup and the fifth-place nation goes to a play-off with the No 4 team from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Very little went right for Brazil, who had not defeated Uruguay in eight years and played one of their worst games of the qualifiers.

Coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw with Peru on Sunday, Brazil fielded a modified team with Sevilla striker Luiz Fabiano replacing Vagner Love and defender Alex starting for captain Lucio, who sat out a one-game suspension.

But Uruguay, who drew 2-2 with Chile on Sunday, surprised Brazil with an aggressive start and pinned the Brazilians in their own end.

Brazil’s first chance was a breakaway in the sixth minute by Real Madrid striker Robinho, who forced keeper Fabian Carini to make a diving stop.

But Uruguay opened the scoring two minutes later when Sebastian Abreu met a cross from the byline with a diving header.

Brazil, with the support of a sellout crowd of 65,000 at Morumbi stadium, tightened its defence and tried to counter, exploiting the speed of Robinho, Kaka and Luis Fabiano.

In the 12th minute, AC Milan striker Kaka streaked up the middle on another breakaway and appeared to get tripped in the penalty area by Walter Gargano, but Argentine referee Hector Baldassi called the foul against the Brazilian.

Uruguay remained in control and attacked at will. Cristian Rodriguez came within centimetres of widening the advantage, and only a series of spectacular saves by Julio Cesar denied further attempts.

Striker Luis Suarez nearly scored on a solo run in the 19th minute, dribbling past Brazilian defender Juan and colliding with Julio Cesar, but again Baldassi penalised Suarez, this time with a yellow card.

But in the final minute of the half, Luis Fabiano raced to the byline and fired with almost no angle, amazingly shooting between the legs of Carini to equalise 1-1.

Uruguay continued to press forward in the second half, with Suarez beating Gilberto in the opening minute and forcing Julio Cesar to make a diving save.

Dunga tried to bolster his defence by replacing Ronaldinho with defensive midfielder Josue. But it was Luis Fabiano who put Brazil ahead in the 64th minute, settling a rebound of a shot by Gilberto and drilling it for the winner.