SPORTS

Portugal down World champs Brazil

March 30, 2003 17:18 IST

Goals from Bordeaux's Pauleta and Deco, a Brazilian who took out Portuguese nationality this winter, gave Portugal a 2-1 win over World Cup winners Brazil in a friendly on Saturday.

The Euro 2004 hosts got off to a quick start with Pauleta's eight minute strike off a right cross from Sergio Conceicao.

In spite of the absence of Luis Figo Portugal, under former Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari, outplayed Brazil in the first-half.

But the South Americans pulled level after Paris Saint Germain's Ronaldhino was fouled in the 64th minute by Simoa Sabrosa.Ronaldhino took the spot-kick himself.

Brazil were down to ten men when Roberto Carlos was sent off with ten minutes to go.Deco got the winner from a free-kick two minutes later.

This was Scolari's first win since taking charge of Portugal while his successor in the Brazil hot seat, Carlos Alberto Parreira, is still searching for his first success.

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