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BRAZIL - SOUTH AFRICA, December 7, 1997.
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Exhibition Match
Brazil beat South Africa 2-1
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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 7, -(AP)
Romario and Bebeto used speed and flair to score first-half goals Sunday as world champion Brazil defeated South Africa 2-1 in an exhibition soccer match between two World Cup qualifiers.
South Africa was no match for Brazil's quickness and ball-handling wizardry but fought back to score a 78th minute goal by substitute Helman Mkhalele.
The South Africans had few other serious scoring chances and rarely were able to penetrate deep into the Brazilian zone.
The victory was Brazil's fourth straight on its world tour after triumphs over Mexico, South Korea and Japan.
For South Africa, which qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since it returned to international soccer in 1992 after being banned two decades because of apartheid, it was another defeat to a world soccer power.
Despite a strong record in Africa, including its African Nations Cup triumph in 1995, South Africa has yet to defeat a legitimate European or South American power in the past two years, including two losses to Brazil and defeats by England, France, Germany and Holland.
Brazil used a four-man midfield Sunday led by Denilson and Dunga, the captain, with Romario and Bebeto relying on their quickness to break into the South African zone.
It paid off quickly, with Romario taking a long pass from Dunga on the right side and chipping a shot over charging goalkeeper Andre Arendse to score in the 10th minute. South Africa protested the play was offside.
Brazil controlled much of the play, registering five shots to three in the first half and getting the only three corners awarded.
In the 37th minute, Denilson charged up the left and sent the ball inside to Romario, who back-heeled it to Bebeto. His first shot went off South African captain Lucas Radebe, but Bebeto got it back and easily beat Arendse in close for a 2-0 lead.
The second half saw South Africa use its possession more efficiently with stronger runs into the Brazilian zone. But the quicker Brazilians constantly prevented any serious scoring chances until Mkhalele, who came on in the 52nd minute for Willem Jackson, charged down the left side and popped the ball inside. Brendan Augustine then outjumped towering defender Junior Baiano to get the ball back to Mkhalele, who scored easily past goalkeeper Dida.
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