Brazil cruise to easy win in Singapore

Singapore - Goals from Ronaldinho Gaucho, Diego and Jo sealed the deal for the South Americans despite an unspectacular display from the visitors.

A plethora of the world's best footballers such as Diego (Werder Bremen), Jo (Manchester City), Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho (AC Milan) graced the pitch of the famed stadium but the action never quite lived up to expectations.

The opening quarter of the game was played out at a pedestrian pace before the boys from Brazil ignited the boisterous crowd with a typical samba move which saw Ronaldinho back heeling the ball to a waiting Diego who majestically drilled it straight into the bottom left corner to put his side one up.

Seven minutes later, Diego turned creator when he clipped in a chip pass to Alexandre ‘The Duck' Pato who belted a thunderous strike which Hassan Sunny parried away only to see Ronaldinho there to bundle it over the line for a two goal lead.

The floodgates did not open as predicted with the Brazilians happy to play possession football and stroke the ball around midfield.

Referee Abdul Malik Bashir blew the whistle to signal half time with the Brazilians looking visibly tired due to the humidity while the Singapore players who spent most of the half defending were thrilled to have restricted their visitors to a two goal lead.

Head coach Dunga made three changes at the start of the second half by bringing on Bayern Munich's talented defender Breno, Spurs' rumoured transfer target Thiago Nevez and Real Betis' star striker Rafael Sobis in place of Thaigo Silva, Alexandre Pato and Diego.

The new boys found it hard to gel and with star player Ronaldinho seemingly tired, things went down to training pace and the crowd started getting impatient.

Fazrul Nawaz took advantage of some poor marking to storm down the left for Singapoe before cutting the ball back for an open Juma'at Jantan to try his luck at goal but Brazilian keeper Renan was up to the task and parried it away.

Things started heating up between both sets of players when Qiu Li and Miroslav Latiak made a couple of rough challenges on Thiago Newez and Ramirez to send the Brazilian bench into a fit of anger.

There was still time for one last goal in the 80th minute when Fluminese playmaker Nevez rampaged down the right before putting in a delightful cross for Manchester City's new import, Jo, to head past a helpless Lionel Lewis.

On the 89th minute, with sections of the 33,650 crowd started making their way out of the stadium, Sao Paolo stopper Alex Silva clashed with Qiu Li and the Brazilian was subsequently sent off by the referee to the dismay of captain Ronaldinho who tried his best to calm things down.

It proved not to be the best match ever played out at the iconic Kallang National stadium, but for the grand old dame, it was a fitting finale before the lights went out.

Final score


Singapore Selection 0-3 Brazil Olympic

20 min - Diego (Brazil)

27 min - Ronaldinho (Brazil)

80 min - Jo (Brazil)

Singapore Selection XI - Hassan Sunny(gk), Baihakki Khaizan, Valery Hiek, Juma'at Jantan, Daniel Bennett, Ridhuan Muhamad, John Wilkinson, Fahrudin Mustafic, Shahril Isha, Aleksandar Duric, Indra Sahdan(captain)

Brazil Olympic XI - Renan(gk), Rafinha, Alex Silva, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Hernanes, Lucas, Anderson, Ronaldinho Gaucho (captain), Diego, Alexandre Pato

espnstar.com's Man of the Match: John Wilkinson (Singapore)

Wilkinson worked tirelessly with Lions captain Mustafic Fahrudin, challenging a stellar Brazilian midfield whenever they came into possession. A number of incisive passes and through-balls also got the home crowd's pulse's racing.

All in all though, against a Brazilian side that was meant to dominate, Singapore proved a determined and passionate opponent, giving a good account of themselves on a night that was meant to be all about the samba kings.