Romario comes back with a bang

But rivals Argentina took some of the gloss off the Brazilian success as they moved to the brink of assuring themselves one of the top four automatic qualifying places with a 2-1 win in Peru, with Lazio pair Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron both on target.

Third-placed Uruguay kept up their challenge yesterday with a 4-0 hammering of Ecuador in Montevideo with goals from Federico Magallanes, Dario Silva, Nicolas Olivera and Gabriel Cedres.

Despite losing their match in Brazil, Argentina lead the group with 19 points from eight matches, four clear of Colombia, who won 1-0 in Chile in their match Saturday in Santiago.

Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay are all locked on 14 points.

The Brazilians have a chance to consolidate their position in their next match as they travel to hapless Venezuela, bottom of the group, while Argentina have a tough test at home to Uruguay.

Despite Romario8217;s best efforts a pitiful 35,000 crowd at the giant Maracana Stadium showed just how disillusioned many Brazilian fans have become with their side.

Those who did turn up were rewarded for their willingness to brave the rainy conditions and see Romario open his account on 11 minutes from the penalty spot and add two more in the closing minutes after Rivaldo had bagged the second of the night just after the break.

Substitute Marques made it five with two minutes remaining.

Luxemburgo, criticised last week by no less a figure than Pele for a predilection to chop and change the squad, will be sitting easier in his hotseat after 34-year-old Romario turned up after more than 12 months on the sidelines and promptly stole the entire show with his goals.

8220;I8217;m very happy. I came back to the squad to score goals and I did just that. That8217;s what I wanted more than anything 8212; and come away from the Maracana with this win,8221; the veteran forward told reporters.

Romario, who has been in good form for club side Vasco da Gama recently, thus appeared to have buried the hatchet with Luxemburgo after he was left out of the Olympic squad.

Despite the margin of the victory much of Brazil8217;s football was well below their highest standard as passes went astray in a poor first half, although the driving rain was a factor before the Bolivians crumbled after the break.

Big win for Mexico

MEXICO CITY: Convincing wins by Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaica on Sunday guaranteed the three National football teams slots in the final-round CONCACAF group for qualification to the World Cup.

Mexico outgunned Panama, 7-1, Trinidad and Tobago whipped Canada 4-0 and Jamaica shut out St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0.

Honduras beat El Salvador 5-0, Costa Rica shut out Barbados 3-0 and the United States defeated Guatemala 1-0.