Brazil floor Bosnia thanks to late own goal
Updated: 2012-02-29 15:55
(Agencies)
|
||||||||
Brazil's Ronaldinho reacts during their friendly soccer match against Bosnia in St. Gallen, Feb 28, 2012. [Photo/Agencies] |
* Five-times world champions survive torrid test
ST GALLEN, Switzerland - Brazil's experimental team came through a torrid friendly against Bosnia on Tuesday, winning 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time own goal by Sasa Papac after several near misses from the East Europeans.
Coach Mano Menezes is still struggling to find the ideal lineup for the 2014 World Cup hosts but Marcelo gave them a fourth-minute lead.
Vedad Ibisevic levelled for Bosnia nine minutes later following blunders by defender David Luiz and goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Both teams missed chances until Papac turned the ball into his own goal in the 91st minute as he tried to clear Hulk's powerful low cross.
Ronaldinho, who made his international comeback against Ghana last year, was given another start but the 31-year-old was a shadow of his former self and was substituted in the second half.
The game appeared anything but a friendly with the Bosnia side playing as if the match was one of the most important of their careers.
Although it was staged in a Swiss second division stadium, the 17,500-capacity arena was packed with fanatical Bosnian fans who drowned out the Brazilian national anthem, jeered incessantly when the opposition had possession and threw flares on the pitch.
"The role of the supporters is to make conditions difficult for the opposition but it should never be done in excess," said Menezes who was also unhappy with some crunching tackles.
"Neymar suffered a criminal foul the first time he got the ball. That wasn't football."
Five-times world champions Brazil had plenty of the ball but rarely threatened while Bosnia were always menacing on the break.
Brazil's Neymar (R) challenges Bosnia's Emir Spahic during their friendly soccer match in St. Gallen, Feb 28, 2012. [Photo/Agencies] |
- 'Taken 2' grabs movie box office crown
- Rihanna's 'Diamonds' tops UK pop chart
- Fans get look at vintage Rolling Stones
- Celebrities attend Power of Women event
- Ang Lee breaks 'every rule' to make unlikely new Life of Pi film
- Rihanna almost thrown out of nightclub
- 'Dark Knight' wins weekend box office
- 'Total Recall' stars gather in Beverly Hills
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Supplies pour into isolated villages |
All-out efforts to save lives |
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |