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September 13, 2007

Brazil beats Mexico in front of 61,000 in Foxboro

AP photo / Charles Krupa
Brazil midfielder Kaka celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Mexico in the second half in Foxboro.

By KEN MAGUIRE
Associated Press Writer

FOXBORO, Mass. - Kaka was pleased to score the winning goal in Brazil's 3-1 victory over Mexico on Wednesday night.

He was even happier to perform for so many yellow jerseys that packed Gillette Stadium.

"We were so thankful to be playing in front of so many Brazilians, especially playing away from home," the midfielder said after Brazil finished its 28th consecutive road international game in front of 67,584, a new attendance record for soccer at Gillette.

Kaka, a favorite to win the FIFA player of the year award for the first time this year, broke a 1-1 tie in the 80th minute when Mexican captain Rafael Marquez stopped a cross but failed to clear, leaving the ball nearly stationary for the 25-year-old AC Milan star to slam home a goal.

The hard-fought victory was Brazil's first over Mexico in more than three years. The two ejections, including Brazil coach Dunga, and five yellow cards were proof that the teams treated the game as the latest in a rivalry rather than the friendly it was.

Kaka, Milan's leading scorer en route to this year's European Champions League title, said Brazil wasn't out for revenge. Instead, they're looking ahead to next month's World Cup qualifier against Columbia.

"This is an excellent last game before we have to go into the elimination round," he said.

Brazil could have scored more goals - Ronaldinho's dazzling playmaking providing the chances - only to be frustrated by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who made several brilliant saves - 11 for the match - to keep his team in the game.

Andres Guardado set up Juan Carlos Cacho's goal in the 43rd minute, taking a pass from Nery Castillo on the left wing and drawing Brazil goalkeeper Cesar Julio to the right corner of the net before passing to a wide-open Cacho, who finished from 10 yards in front.

The lead lasted just two minutes. Ronaldinho's corner kick to the short side of the goal was met by a charging Kleber, who jumped and put his left foot on the ball, sending it to the far corner past a leaping Ochoa.

Then came Kaka's goal, which Marquez said "changed the story."

"It was one of our errors but it is something that we can only fix by working on it, and not thinking that Brazil defeated us," said Marquez, a Barcelona teammate of Ronaldinho.

Late substitute Afonso collected a goal kick and scored in the 86th minute, sealing the victory for Brazil.

Despite the loss, Marquez was upbeat, and optimistic about Mexico's World Cup qualifying round, which starts in February.

"We weren't really thinking about the score," he said. "It was the performance that was important, particularly for this team that's on its way to an elimination round."

Ochoa, who stopped Kaka from point-blank range early in the first half when Ronaldinho lofted a pass over the defense and onto Kaka's feet, said there's no margin for error against the world's top-ranked team.

"Whenever you give them an opportunity to attack, they're always successful," he said. "It's always complicated to play Brazil."

With the score still tied 1-1 in the 70th minute, he stopped a header by an unmarked Dracena Edu off a Ronaldinho free kick from 35 yards.

"We played with our heads held high," Ochoa said. "We played a good game. We're calm. We know we're doing things the right way."

Referee Baldomero Toledo threw out Dunga in the 94th minute after the Brazilian coach protested a call. Dunga didn't discuss the ejection after the game.

Elano received a red card in the 82nd minute, after trip away from the ball near midfield. Ronaldinho, Kaka and Kleber were booked for Brazil. Guardado and Gerardo Torrado were booked for Mexico.

Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez, who directed his team to a 2-0 upset of Brazil in June in the first round of the Copa America, which Brazil went on to win, said he wasn't expecting such a rough game. He said Ronaldinho and Kaka, who didn't play in the Copa America, elevated the level of play.

This was Brazil's first appearance in Foxboro, and just its second in New England. On Sunday, Brazil beat the United States 4-2 in Chicago.

The previous record high attendance for soccer at Gillette Stadium was 61,316, set at the 2002 MLS Cup, when the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the New England Revolution 1-0 in overtime.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 7:57 AM | Permalink

Comments

What a great night from a (Scottish) American who was draped in the canary yellow Brazil,for a game, which I thought was going to be another lame friendly. It was exquisite, as the worlds greatest footballer - Ronaldinho - put on a show. He made cross-field passes better than anyone I have ever seen, he played balls into space with such speed that it looked like none of his team mates could catch up to the ball until you saw the ball slow-down due to the incredible amount of backspin he put on the ball and above all he fought to win, picked up a yellow card and just simply made everything happen. It most certainly was not lame, it was, as I said earlier, exqusite. A quick note of thanks to all from South America and Mexico who made this a colorful and noisy spectacle. I was up in the bleachers and I thought I had left the USA for a couple of hours, between leaving and returning to my car I heard no English language spoken- an exotic evening. Thanks to all except those responsible for traffic management.

Posted by: SirGeorge at September 13, 2007 3:04 PM

September 13, 2007

Brazil beats Mexico in front of 61,000 in Foxboro

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