Tie With Peru Hurts Brazil
World champion Brazil was held to a 1-1 tie by Peru at the Estadio Monumental in Lima on Sunday and fell into second place behind Argentina in South American qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The Brazilians took the lead in the 20th minute on a penalty kick by Inter Milan striker Rivaldo, but Peru responded with a headed goal by Newcastle United’s Nolbert Solano in the 58th minute.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Nov. 19, 2003 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday November 19, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 0 inches; 28 words Type of Material: Correction
Soccer -- The club for which Brazilian striker Rivaldo plays was reported incorrectly Monday in a Sports article on soccer. Rivaldo plays for AC Milan, not Inter Milan.
Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira summed up his reaction in eight words: “The play was good ... I go in peace,” he said.
Brazil and Argentina are tied with seven points each three games into the marathon 18-game qualifying series, but the Argentines have a slightly better goal difference.
In Colombia, meanwhile, fans were waiting to see if Coach Francisco Maturana resigns before or after the team’s match against Argentina on Wednesday. Colombia is 0-3 in qualifiers and Maturana had said he would step down if his side lost at home to Venezuela, which it did Saturday.
Africans Advance
Colorado Rapid striker Zizi Roberts scored the opening goal in Monrovia, Liberia, as Liberia overcame a 2-0 first-leg loss by beating Gambia, 3-0, advancing to the next round of African qualifying for Germany 2006.
Also securing their place in the next round were Angola, Benin, Cape Verde Islands, Botswana, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Conquering Danes
Denmark gained a measure of revenge for last year’s 3-0 loss to England in the World Cup when it twice came from behind in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in Manchester.
It was only the Danes’ second victory in 16 matches against England.
England got goals from Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole, but couldn’t hold back the adventurous Danes. Two goals by Martin Jorgensen and a late game-winner from Jon-Dahl Tomassons exposed England’s defensive weakness in the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell.
“Unfortunately, we let them get back in it,” David Beckham told Sky Sports 1.
Irish Scare
Ireland’s players escaped unharmed when, according to police, gunmen fired “one or two shots” during a robbery at the hotel in Portmarnock on the outskirts of Dublin where the Irish team is staying in advance of Wednesday’s game against Canada.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
