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Brazil slips past US in Confederations Cup

Adriano of Brazil , right, fights for the ball with Gregg Berhalter of US during their Confederations Cup match in Lyon, France on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Brazil got back into contention in the Confederations Cup with a 1-0 win Saturday over the US which knocked the Americans out of the eight-nation tournament.

Adriano scored his first goal for Brazil in the 21st minute for the slim victory.

The win put the world champion on three points in group B after two games, the same as Turkey, which lost 1-0 Saturday against Cameroon.

Brazil and Turkey meet Monday to decide who will join the African champion in the semifinals.

The US has lost both its games so far.

Brazil got the breakthrough when American defender Gregg Berhalter hesitated with the ball on the edge of his area and was robbed by Adriano. The striker struck his first shot straight at goalie Tim Howard. The Parma of Italy player then fired the rebound into the open net.

Despite the win, Brazil failed to impress against a side ranked 10th in the world and showed the same sluggishness and lack of polish which flawed its performance in its opening game loss against Cameroon.

Lineups * Brazil: Dida; Belletti (Maurinho 65th), Lucio, Juan, Kleber; Emerson, Kleberson, Ricardinho, Alex (Gil 68th), Ronaldinho, Adriano (Ilan 85th) * US: Tim Howard; Gregg Berhalter, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Cory Gibbs (Bobby Convey 75th); Pablo Mastroeni (Taylor Twellman 82nd), Earnie Stewart, DaMarcus Beasley, Chris Klein (Eddie Lewis 55th); Landon Donovan, Clint Mathis

Both sides improved on their first games in the tournament but there were few thrills. Players engaged in a midfield dogfight, hit too many stray passes and failed to make their possession tell.

Alex, the only new face on Brazil's starting lineup, brought much-needed cohesion to his side's midfield but Kleberson and Ricardinho were subdued.

US coach Bruce Arena made seven changes from the side that lost to Turkey. Clint Mathis and Earnie Stewart introduced more grit and pace into the American outfit and allowed Landon Donovan more space.

Adriano, playing his fourth game for Brazil, had several other chances throughout the match.

He had an early opening when he took a pass from Ronaldinho inside the area, beat two players and hit a low shot just past the American post.

But that was the only highlight of the dull first 20 minutes for the 20,306 fans at the half-full Stade de Gerland stadium.

After the goal, Ricardinho broke through the American defense 10 minutes before the interval, meeting a sidefooted pass from Ronaldinho, but he shot weakly.
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