Brazil, Portugal lead soccer

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 24

Brazil, Portugal lead soccer

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) RIO DE JANEIRO. Brazil and Portugal are the favourites to reach the final of the Brazilian Independence soccer tournament after the second round of quarter-final matches.

Swamping a slow and outclassed Jugoslav team, 3-0, at Sao Paulo, Brazil took the lead in group one, and Portugal deceived its supporters by scoring only one point against a surprisingly strong Uruguayan team, with a draw, 1-1. But the Portuguese, who until they met Uruguay had coasted through the contest, are still a point ahead in group two and are unlikely to relinquish their leadership to the Soviet Union on Thursday. SCOTLAND DRAWS

Scotland lost its chance at reaching the final, to be played in the hot southern city of Porto Alegre, when it had a scoreless draw with Czechoslovakia. To redeem itself, Scotland would have to beat Brazil, three times the world champion, when they meet in the huge Maracana Stadium before about 200,000 patriotic Brazilians tomorrow.

Another surprise in the second-round quarter-finals was the defeat of the Soviet Union, 1-0, by Argentina.

Points, with goal averages in parthenses after two rounds are:—

Group one.—Brazil 3 points (3-0), Scotland 2 (2-2), Czechoslovakia 2 (0-0), Jugoslavia 2 (2-5).

Group two.—Portugal 3 (4-2), Soviet Union 2 (1-1). Argentina 2 (1-1), Uruguay 1 (1-2).

Motor-cycling.—The Italians, G. Agostini and A. Paganl, both riding M.V. Agustas, dominated the 500 c.c. race at the Belgian motor-cycle grand prix meeting In Francorchamps. Agostini won the event—his seventy-first grand prix victory. R. Gould (Britain), on a Yamaha, was third.

Golf.—Miss S. M. Berning, who won the title in 1968. recaptured the United States women’s open golf championship at Mamaroneck, New York.