Brazil trounces Argentina to bag Confederations Cup title

Brazil produced a masterful display against Argentina, trouncing their old foes 4-1 to win the Confederations Cup title. The world champions ripped the heart out of Jose Pekerman's side in the opening quarter of an hour through strikes from Adriano and Kaka, with Ronaldhino and then Adriano again completing the rout after the break.

Adriano's double made him the competition's top scorer with five goals.This was Brazil's second Confederations Cup title and it handed them quick retribution after falling 3-1 to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires at the start of the month. It left Argentina however without a major senior title since their Copa America win in 1993.

Cicinho set up Brazil's opener when he passed to Adriano, the burly Inter Milan striker curling the ball in from the right of the box in the 11th minute. And Cicinho played a key part in Brazil's second when he lobbed a pitch-wide cross from the right to Robinho who in turn found Kaka lurking in the box, the AC Milan midfielder finishing neatly, his shot sailing over keeper German Lux's head.

Argentina could have scored at least once in this opening period, with notably Juan Riquelme going close but they were thwarted by a combination of poor finishing and sterling work by the Brazilian back line. And their appeals for a penalty in the 35th minute were denied when Juan Sorin fell in the box, the Argentina skipper picking up a booking for his troubles.

Javier Zanetti did go close to reducing the deficit in first half injury time when the Inter Milan defender was fed by Cesar Delgado but his shot from the right of the box went wide of Dida's post.

The second half was only 60 seconds old when Brazil got their third after a sweet move started by Kaka who picked out Cicinho on the right wing, the defender crossing to Ronaldinho who flicked the ball in from under Lux's face.

Brazil were by this stage toying with Argentina like a cat with a mouse, and it was only a matter of time before they added a fourth, the result of another cross from Cicinho in the right corner with Adriano thumping his header past Lux.

Argentina's consolation came from second half substitute Pablo Aimar, Dida unable to do anything about his 65th minute header.

Only deft work by Lux - for whom this competition has been something of a baptism of fire - kept out a rocket from Adriano's left foot near the end. However, Argentina never gave up and Dida saved brilliantly from Sorin while seconds later the Brazil keeper was fortunate not to concede a penalty as he blatantly barged Sorin away from the ball but to the long-haired Argentine skipper's bemusement a freekick was awarded against him.

A meeting between these Latin rivals is always a highly charged affair and even the weather contributed to the sense of drama, with loud claps of thunder and flashes of lightning over the not-so-sealed roof which had as hard a job of containing the driving rain as the Argentine back line had in stopping the Brazilian attack.

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