Kaka scored in the 73rd minute as Brazil defeated Peru 1-0 in a South American World Cup qualifying match. The AC Milan midfielder, set up by Ronaldo, shot from inside the penalty box and into the net’s left corner at the packed Serra Dourada Stadium yesterday. Brazil remained trailing rivals Argentina in the 10-team qualifying group. Brazil have 23 points, two behind Argentina, who beat Bolivia 2-1 on Saturday. Peru were second-to-last with only 13 points. Brazil struggled to get past Peru’s tight defensive scheme in the midwestern city of Goiania, and its best chances came only in the second half, when substitute striker Robinho increased the team’s offensive threat. “We didn’t play as good as we wanted in the first half,” Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “A team like Brazil, with the players we have, should’ve created more scoring chances than it did.” Peru relied only on counterattacks, and rarely threatened the five-time world champions. “It’s always hard to play against an opponent set up entirely on defense,” Brazil midfielder Emerson said. “But we got the win, that’s what matters in a game like this.” Brazil, who outshot Peru 13-8, had not scored in their last two qualifiers - a 1-0 loss to Ecuador, and a 0-0 draw with Colombia. Kaka’s goal was the team’s first since Brazil beat Venezuela 5-2 in October. Next on Wednesday, Brazil will face Uruguay in Montevideo, while Peru will host Ecuador. With Robinho in the lineup, Brazil were able to open up space, and create more scoring chances. The best came in the 54th, when Kaka — one of the game’s best players — nearly scored with a shot from inside the area, but the ball ricocheted off defenders for an easy save by Peru goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez. Mourinho wants Portugal job TEL AVIV: Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said on Monday that he wants to coach Portugal before retiring. ‘‘My idea is to work for 13 (more) years, so. if I can spend four of them with the Portuguese national team, I have nine years in English soccer,’’ he said during a two-day visit here.(Reuters)
