HARARE - Brazil's Samba Boys on Wednesday beat Zimbabwe national soccer team 3-0 in a friendly match at the revamped National Sports Stadium.
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 Michel Bastos (L) of Brazil celebrates with team-mates Robinho (front R), Kaka (back R) and Maicon after scoring against Zimbabwe during a friendly match in Harare June 2, 2010. The Brazilian national team prompted euphoria on Zimbabwean streets as they arrived for the World Cup warm-up match, with government offices and schools declaring a half day holiday to allow people to see the game. [Agencies]
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Brazil is among the favorites to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa to kick off next week and is using the match against Zimbabwe, nicknamed Warriors, to prepare for the bonanza.
The match has generated great excitement among Zimbabweans, with the government giving civil servants half-day off to enable those interested in watching the historic game.
The Warriors started brightly and for the first 40 minutes, the Samba Boys were reduced to an ordinary side though Kaka, Fabiano and Robinho were always threatening.
With Benjani Mwaruwari using his strength to get into the box ably supported by Quincy Antipas and Knowledge Musona, Zimbabwe should have at least grabbed a goal in the first 20 minutes. The football script could have been different had Ovidy Karuru beaten Julio Cesar in the 20th minute.
With an open goal at his mercy and supporters up to celebrate a goal, the France-based midfielder surprisingly skied his effort.
The goal which broke the deadlock came in the 42nd minute when full back Michel Bastos beat Edmore Sibanda from a free kick.
Two minutes later, the Samba Boys doubled their lead when Robinho swept the ball past Sibanda after a swift counter attack, and Elano wrapped up the victory for Brazil in the 56th minute.
The high profile international match lived to its billing as it was watched by President Robert Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and thousands of Zimbabweans who filled the National Sports Stadium to capacity.
