RIO DE JANEIRO—Brazil served up another lethal cocktail of uncompromising defence and clinical counter-attacks in their unprecedented 4-0 win in Uruguay on Saturday.
Brazil soaked up the first-half pressure in Montevideo and found themselves 2-0 up at halftime on the way to their first win in Uruguay since 1976.
The win took them top of the 10-team South American World Cup qualifying group with 24 points, virtually assuring them of a place in South Africa with five matches to spare.
Under coach Dunga, Brazil have become happiest playing away from home where they can sit back, let the hosts come at them and catch them on the break led by Kaka and Robinho.
Brazil, who have conceded only five goals in 13 qualifiers, have won 4-0 in Uruguay and Venezuela and 3-0 in Chile during their campaign.
They have conceded only five goals in 13 outings.
On the other hand, Dunga's team has struggled when faced by packed defences at home, where they have been held to goalless draws by Bolivia and Colombia.
"Brazil, which has always been the country of attacking football and pressure, is now the country of defence and a powerful counter-attack," wrote former Brazil striker Tostao in the Folha de Sao Paulo.
"The Brazilian football which is admired all around the world for its touch, for exchanging passes and dominating the game, no longer exists," added the 1970 World Cup winner.
"Now, it's a game of tough marking and counter-attacks, often brilliantly carried out as in the superb win over Uruguay."
Uruguay dominated the first half on Saturday but, while Brazil's goalkeeper Julio Cesar repelled everything the hosts could throw at him, his opposite number Sebastian Viera made two mistakes which both resulted in goals.
Julio Cesar has emerged as one of the world's top goalkeepers and opponents still have to get past him even if they manage the break the Lucio-Juan partnership in the centre of the defence.
"Brazil have two excellent defenders and an exceptional goalkeeper," said Tostao. "Brazil today plays like the efficient Italian national team, which we've always criticised."
"The new Brazilian football is not what we've always dreamed about....But the team has an identity and a style which has a good chance of proving victorious."
Peru v Ecuador 1-2
Paraguay v Chile 0-2
Argentina v Colombia 1- 0
Bolivia v Venezuela 0-1
Uruguay v Brazil 0-4
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Brazil 13 6 6 1 23 5 24
2 Paraguay 13 7 3 3 19 11 24
3 Chile 13 7 2 4 19 14 23
4 Argentina 13 6 4 3 19 13 22
5 Uruguay 13 4 5 4 21 14 17
6 Ecuador 13 4 5 4 16 20 17
7 Venezuela 13 5 1 7 15 22 16
8 Colombia 13 3 5 5 6 11 14
9 Bolivia 13 3 3 7 19 26 12
10 Peru 13 1 4 8 7 28 7
* Top four finishers qualify for World Cup
* Fifth-placed team enter two-legged playoff with fourth-placed CONCACAF team for place in finals
Giants Struggle but Ghana Win Vital Away Game
JOHANNESBURG—The World Cup qualification hopes of African giants Egypt and Cameroon suffered dramatic setbacks on Sunday but Ghana improved their chances with a vital away win.
Ghana's Black Stars beat their key rivals Mali 2-0 away in Bamako to move into the lead in Group D.
But African champions Egypt suffered a massive dent to their chances with a 3-1 defeat in Algeria. They left with a single point at the foot of the Group C standings.
Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in Yaounde, a result that leaves both sides trailing by five points in the Group A standings.
Sunday wins for the Ivory Coast and Nigeria kept both on course in their respective groups, although both countries have more testing assignments in two weeks' time.
Kwakwo Asamoah and Dutch-based Matthew Amoah grabbed second half goals for Ghana as they won a second successive match in their group.
They now have a three point advantage over second placed Benin. Razak Omotoyossi scored the game's only goal in Cotonou as Benin beat Sudan on Sunday.
Algeria scored three goals in 17 minutes just after the hour mark, first from Karim Matmour, then Abdelkader Ghezzal and finally Rafiuk Djeboour, to go joint top of the Group C standings with Zambia.
Egypt, who got a late consolation goal from Mohamed Aboutrika, have a single point from their opening two matches.
In Group A, Cameroon and Morocco are also at the bottom of the standings with a single point each, five behind surprise leaders Gabon. The two fancied teams had suffered surprise defeats in their first group games in March.
Two goals from Obinna Nsofor helped ensure a 3-0 win for Nigeria in their Group B match against Kenya in Abuja although the scoreline flattered the home side.
Nigeria are two points behind Tunisia, who they next meet on June 20.
A second half winner from Christian Koffi Ndri ensured the Ivory Coast stayed level on top of the Group E standings as they beat Guinea 2-1 away.
Their next match is with Burkina Faso, who have also won their opening two games in the final round group phase.
Only the five group winners advance to the 2010 World Cup. All 20 sides play again on the weekend of June 19-21.
African World Cup Qualifying Results and Standings
Group A
Cameroon v Morocco 0-0Gabon v Togo 3-0
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Gabon 2 2 0 0 5 1 62 Togo 2 1 0 1 1 3 3
3 Morocco 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
4 Cameroon 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
Group B
Nigeria v Kenya 3-0Tunisia v Mozambique 2-0
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Tunisia 2 2 0 0 4 1 62 Nigeria 2 1 1 0 3 0 4
3 Mozambique 2 0 1 1 0 2 1
4 Kenya 2 0 0 2 1 5 0
Group C
Algeria v Egypt 3-1Zambia v Rwanda 1-0
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Algeria 2 1 1 0 3 1 42 Zambia 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
3 Rwanda 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
4 Egypt 2 0 1 1 2 4 1
Group D
Mali v Ghana 0-2Benin v Sudan 1-0
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Ghana 2 2 0 0 3 0 62 Benin 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
3 Sudan 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
4 Mali 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
Group E
Guinea v Ivory Coast 1-2Malawi v Burkina Faso 0-1
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Ivory Coast 2 2 0 0 7 1 62 Burkina Faso 2 2 0 0 5 2 6
3 Guinea 2 0 0 2 3 6 0
4 Malawi 2 0 0 2 0 6 0
Group winners qualify for the finals in South Africa next year.
