Brazilian wizards turn on magic to beat Russians

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 14

Brazilian wizards turn on magic to beat Russians

NZPA-Reuter Seville The football wizards of Brazil turned on the. magic against the Soviet Union to snatch a last-ditch 2-1 victory, in Seville yesterday in a game embellished with all the traditional excitement of South American football. After Belgium’s workmanlike 1-0 win over the champion, .Argentina. in Monday’s opening match and a goalless draw between Italy and Poland, the Brazilians scored two thrilling goals in the closing quarter of their group six match against the Russians. The Brazilian . victory handsomely confirmed their status as favourites to lift the World Cup for the fourth time after their successes in 1958, 1962 arid 1970. After a spell, in the seventies when they experimented with a European style of football, the Brazilians have reverted to their traditional game under their manager, Tele Santana, which makes skill and flair the main priorities. The Soviet Union did its best to subdue Brazil on a steamy night in Seville and after Andrei Bal put it ahead in the thirty-third minute, it seemed its well organised game might prevail.

But Socrates’ goal after-73 minutes, curling .past the clutching hands of Renat Desaev from nearly ' 30 metres, and another virtuoso effort by Eder in the eightyeighth minute gave victory to Brazil. “I want lots of art from my sides,” Santana once said. His team delivered yesterday against a joyous background of rhythmic drumming from Brazilian supporters in the 45,000 crowd. > It took Brazil 40 minutes to equalise. Socrates gained possession about 30 metres out, took two steps and despatched a sizzling rightfoot shot unerringly into the top left-hand corner of the net. With Socrates and Falcao dictating in the mid-field and Zico. always ready to burst through the middle the Brazilians laid seige to the Soviet goal for long periods. Only the elegant arid acrobatic. Dasaev denied them a cluster of goals and as early as the second minute, he pulled off a superb save, when Zico let fly from close in. However, the beefy Soviet goal-keeper.should have’been given no chance when the centre-forward, Serginho. broke clear, only to loft the.

ball wildly over the bar with the goal at his mercy. ; ; The ' Soviet Union, which beat Brazil, 2-1, in Rio de Janiero two years ago, was always dangerous in its counterattacks.. The winger, Ramaz Shengelia, was a constant menace and the Brazilian defender, Luisinho, was lucky not to concede a penalty when he appeared to haul back the flying winger by his shirt on one occasion. The Spanish referee, Augusto Lamo Castillo, incurred the wrath of the Soviet players again when he turned down a strong penalty appeal for an apparent handball by Luisinho in the closing minutes. One Brazilian who did not enjoy. yesterday's performance, was .-its goal-keeper, Valdir Peres, who endured a personal nightmare. His worst moment came 12 minutes from the interval ■ when the Soviet Union, which -had always. looked dangerous in : its sporadic raids, broke out of defence and the midfielder, Andrei Bal, tried a hopeful shot from 25 metres. Bal’s efforts appeared to carry a little threat but. the hapless Peres contrived to juggle the ball into the corner of his net.