Julio Cesar saves Brazil.

Yesterday Brazil played Ecuador in Quito, for the South American World Cup Qualifiers. The match ended 1 – 1 but if one is to consider who deserved to win (by many goals), it would be Ecuador. Brazil got outshot by 21 and if it weren’t for glorious Julio César, the match would have been 4-0, maybe 5-0. Something easy to take when your defence suck and you have got no midfield to work with.

While Ecuador presented beautiful football, with good passes and great runs, coach Dunga’s team was lost on the pitch. Ronaldinho, along with Elano and Gilberto Silva could not do a thing and Brazil had to go for the long passes which never really resulted in anything. There was no connection with the forwards.

The man of the match, without any doubt, was Julio Cesar. His saves were miracles and it is still hard to believe how many of them he pulled off. That was the first half: Ecuador attacking and Brazil relying on Julio Cesar.

The second half did not change much except for Dunga’s smart choice of taking Ronaldinho off. On his place came Julio Batista, who managed to score for Brazil on his first and only shot. Amazingly enough, Brazil was winning 1-0, and only needed to hold Ecuador off for around 10 minutes. Mission failed. Ecuador finally scored on the 88th minute. A well deserved goal.

Now Brazil sits 4th in the Qualifiers and truly needs a victory this Wednesday in Porto Alegre against Peru.

Related posts:

1. Julio César saves Inter.
2. Unhappy day for Julio Cesar.
3. Friendly: Brazil beats US 4×2.
4. Brazilian fans’ new kit for Brazil vs. Uruguay match.
5. Brazil 2 – Uruguay 1. God is, indeed, Brazilian.