Ronaldinho shines on a rainy night

PORTO: Portugal beat Brazil for the first time in 37 years on Saturday, winning a friendly football match 2-1 to hand new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari a win over the team he steered to the World Cup title last year.

The winning goal nine minutes from the end came on a free-kick from FC Porto’s Brazilian-born midfielder Deco, who recently took Portuguese nationality and was a controversial selection. Deco, who came on as a second-half substitute, hit a curling strike which sneaked past goalkeeper Marcos when Brazil were down to 10 men. Roberto Carlos was sent off for a nasty foul which brought the free kick. Bordeaux striker Pauleta beat his marker to the front post and from one metre (yard) tapped in a low cross from Sergio Conceicao to give Portugal the lead after just eight minutes.

Ronaldinho, the best player for Brazil, equalised with a penalty in the 64th minute when he was fouled after darting in from the right flank. “We got the victory, but Brazil came close to winning, too. They were very organised and showed lots of quality,” Scolari said. Portugal lost their first match under Scolari, going down by a single goal against Italy. Portugal, who automatically qualify for the 2004 European Championship as hosts, made most of the early running on a rainy night at FC Porto’s Antas Stadium. Ronaldo and Rivaldo were sluggish and it was left to Ronaldinho to show the sharp footwork and bursts of pace which helped Brazil to their fifth World Cup trophy last year. Rivaldo missed a golden chance to level the score after 18 minutes when he tripped over the ball in front of an open goal. The Brazilians only began to find their rhythm on the half-hour. Roberto Carlos twice struck thundering long-range shots, one of them rebounding off the woodwork, and Rivaldo also hit the bar with a free kick before the break.