Robinho masterclass boosts Brazil

Robinho masterclass boosts Brazil
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 2 March 2010

With 100 days to go before the FIFA World Cup™ begins, Brazil showed why they are considered to be many people’s favourites, with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland at the Emirates Stadium in London.

The star of the show was Robinho, who enjoyed a happy return to England by setting up one and scoring another in the victory. The 26-year-old, loaned to Santos in January after his disappointing season at Manchester City, crossed just before the break for Keith Andrews to turn into his own goal, then he added the second himself after the interval.

A Seleção lined up in their familiar formation, 4-2-2-2 by name but fluid with an emphasis on attacking, while Gilberto and Felipe Melo protected the back four. Melo was a player that interested Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before his move from Fiorentina to Juventus, and in his programme notes the Frenchman revealed he was still watching the progress of the midfielder.

There were cheers from Brazil fans when Kaka got an early touch of the ball, but it was Ireland who had the first effort on goal. Paul McShane launched the ball forward, Kevin Doyle nodded the down for Keane and he had a shot saved by Julio Cesar at the near post after cutting inside.

Julio Cesar was called into action again when Doyle got on the end of Duff's cross, with the Inter Milan goalkeeper palming his save away. Kaka responded with a swerving drive that flew over Given's crossbar, then Robinho almost tucked away a sweeping move but had his finish blocked by McShane.

Given was called into action just before the half-hour mark when Kaka was fouled by McShane 25 yards from goal. Adriano took the free-kick and Given tipped the effort over the crossbar. At the other end, Sean St Ledger flashed a bicycle kick across the face of the goal, but there was no team-mate there to tap home.

Brazil took the lead a minute before the break. Robinho looked in front of the last defender when Maicon released him, but the flag stayed down. His powerful cross went into the danger area and was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Andrews.

Despite Dunga insisting ahead of the match that avoiding injuries was an important factor, there were no changes at the interval. Ireland also delayed using their substitutes, until Aiden McGeady and Darron Gibson were brought on in the 57th minute for Duff and Glenn Whelan.

There was little in the way of action in the early stages of the second period aside from Andrews' spat with Kaka after the pair trod on each other following a challenge. Robinho treated the crowd to multiple step-overs just before the hour mark, then he laid the ball back for Michel Bastos to fire wildly over Given's crossbar. Maicon also had sight of goal when he went on a mazy run from the left, but St Ledger blocked his shot.

Dani Alves was brought on in the 64th minute and his first touch saw him rob St Ledger then take it around Given, but he sliced his finish wide with the goal at his mercy. Next to lose the ball in a dangerous area was McShane. It led to Maicon stealing the ball but when Robinho turned the ball in, he was in an offside position. He had an even better chance to score with 20 minutes remaining but skied his close-range effort.

Robinho's goal came with 14 minutes remaining – and what a goal it was. After 29 passes were exchanged by A Seleção, Kaka backheeled the ball into Robinho’s path, then he exchanged passes with Grafite before curling it into Given's bottom corner.