Brazil Pours It On Late to Win

World champion Brazil, struggling to find its rhythm in an El Nino downpour, scored early and late to defeat El Salvador, 4-0, in a Group 1 CONCACAF Gold Cup match Sunday at the Coliseum before 55,000.

Not until Elber came on as a substitute 10 minutes before the end, did the Brazilians break out of their apparent lethargy to advance to the semifinals.

Elber, who replaced first-half scorer Edmundo, immediately added punch to a team that has struggled to score in the 10-nation tournament and which had appeared to lose interest against vastly outmatched opposition.

In the 87th minute, Salvadoran defender Vladan Vicevic’s weak goal-kick came straight to Elber who headed it to Romario, took a return pass and slid the ball home.

Two minutes later, he scored with an impertinent back-heel, after Vicevic had headed a cross straight to him.

In the first half, Brazil had taken an early two-goal lead through Edmundo and Romario and could have had several more goals but for some brave goalkeeping from Alvaro Alfaro.

In the 7th minute Edmundo rose at the near post to head in a Zinho corner just seconds after his point-blank volley was kept out by a sprawling Alfaro.

Then in the 19th minute, Romario raced on to a Zinho pass to shoot left-footed past Alfaro from the edge of the penalty area. But after that, as the rain came down relentlessly the Brazilians seemed to lose interest.

In an earlier match on Sunday, Jamaica held on the beat Guatemala 3-2 with two goals from Paul Hall and one from Andrew Williams. For Guatemala, Guillermo Ramirez scored a first-half penalty and substitute Victor Gomez had a late goal.