Brazil flex muscle over Ivorians to qualify

BRAZIL flexed their muscles and showed why they are among the favourites to win the World Cup for a sixth time when they beat Ivory Coast 3-1 with a command performance to qualify for the second round at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Two goals from Luis Fabiano and one from Elano sealed the win which was blighted by a late red card shown to playmaker Kaka two minutes from time. Coasting and untroubled at 3-0 and with the game drifting to its obvious conclusion, Ivory Coast pulled a goal back when captain Didier Drogba headed home and seven minutes later the game exploded into life in the wrong way with a fracas that seemed utterly at odds with what had gone on before.It began when Ivorian substitute Kader Keita crashed to the ground in apparent agony holding his face after television replays showed he had been barely nudged in the chest by Kaka, and the Ivorians obvious frustrations boiled over. Players pushed and shoved and ran at each other before referee Stephane Lannoy, who failed to spot at least two handling offences by Luis Fabiano in the build-up to his second goal, flashed a second yellow card at Kaka and sent him off.’It was totally unjust. He (Kaka) was the one who suffered the foul,’ Brazil coach Dunga said after the game.Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was also critical of the French referee for allowing Fabiano’s second goal.’It’s difficult to cope with Luis Fabiano and even more difficult if he’s allowed to use its hands. Of course, it’s handball, not once by twice,’ Eriksson said.’They got a goal free, a 2-0 goal which changed everything.’Despite drawing their opening match and losing this one, Ivory Coast still have a chance of qualifying, but Portugal are favourites to join Brazil in the last 16 after they beat North Korea convincingly in Cape Town yesterday. – Nampa-Reuters