Dunga cheered, Maradona jeered in Rosario

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 6, 2009

[ARGENTINA-BRAZIL] Sixteen years to the day after its infamous 5-0 loss to Colombia in Buenos Aires, Argentina suffered another humiliating defeat at home. Brazil's 3-1 win in Rosario kept its record intact of qualifying for every World Cup tournament and put Argentina's hopes of qualifying in jeopardy. It also produced the unlikely sound of fans at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito chanting the name of Brazil coach Dunga in protest to Argentina coach Diego Maradona.

Ironically, it was Maradona, who had complained about Argentina's home stadium in Buenos Aires, the larger Estadio Monumental, and the home-field advantage Argentina was supposed to enjoy in Rosario never materialized.

Defender Luisao scored on a header and Luis Fabiano struck twice as Argentina never had a chance.

"Until the 24th minute, Brazil hadn't even got [to our box]," Maradona said of Luisao's goal off Elano's free kick. "We were very bad on the aerial balls and we paid dearly for that."

The killer second goal came seven minutes later when goalie Mariano Andujar failed to hold on to Kaka's shot and allowed Luis Fabiano to put the ball in the goal.

Three minutes after midfielder Jesus Datolo's long-range goal for Argentina, the home team's hopes were extinguished when Luis Fabiano scored on a counterattack.

Lionel Messi had received permission to sit out Barcelona's opening game of La Liga season to be ready for the Brazil game, but he was hardly a factor on Saturday. Also ineffective was frontline partner Carlos Tevez.

Sept. 5 in Rosario
Argentina 1 Brazil 3. Goals: Datolo 64; Luisao 24, Luis Fabiano 31, 67.
Argentina -- Andujar, Zanetti, Dominguez, Otamendi, Heinze, Rodriguez (Aguero 46), Mascherano, Veron, Datolo, Tevez (Milito 67), Messi
Brazil -- Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Luisao, Andre Santos;. Elano (Daniel Alves 67), Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Kaka, Luis Fabiano (Adriano 77), Robinho (Ramires 67)
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)
Att.: 42,000