Brazilians pay tribute to beaten Bafana Bafana

JOHANNESBURG - Brazilian players paid a tribute to Bafana Bafana after the Selecao had beaten the Confederations Cup hosts 1-0 in Thursday’s semi-final played in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park stadium.

Substitute Daniel Alves sent the five-time world champions into the final with an 88th-minute free-kick winner.

The Barcelona defender struck an unstoppable shot past the wall from the edge of the penalty area to clinch a 1-0 semi-final win against the home side who had come close to upsetting the title-holders.

The victory sets up a final for Brazil in Johannesburg Sunday against the United States, surprise 2-0 winners over European champions Spain Wednesday.

South Africa will play Spain for third place in Rustenburg, also Sunday.

Midfielder Kaka, who will be joining Real Madrid at the start of the new season, said that they had not been surprised that it had been such a tough match.

“Today was a very, very tough game. Brazil suffered a lot to win but in the end we found the goal that made the difference. Today in football the details make the difference and so we went through to another final, but we have to congratulate South Africa.”

Brazilian captain Lucio said that South Africa had already played well in their previous matches. “They are a good side and it is not easy to beat them. We had to work very hard.”

Brazil coach Carlos Dunga had sent on Alves in the 82nd minute for Andre Santos, perhaps in the hope that a free-kick could settle a hard-fought game in which the home side matched a disappointing Selecao all the way.

Alves got his chance when Ramires was upended on the edge of the box by central defender Aaron Mokoena to the dismay of South Africa`s Brazilian coach Joel Santana.

The defender’s shot went straight past the wall and just inside the post, with keeper Itumeleng Khune powerless despite diving full stretch to his left.

South African captain Mokoena said that he did not know whether it was a freekick. “I don’t think I made contact, but I don’t think I want to comment on that.

“The South Americans are South Americans, whether they are Brazilians, the Spanish, they are always diving, that is why it is quite difficult for me to say whether it was a freekick or not. Most people say it was not a freekick.”

Dunga said that he brought on Daniel Alves because he was an aggressive and fast player.

“He is very good with freekicks and fortunately, it worked out and he was perfect in the free kick.”

He praised his South African counterpart Joel Santana, who is also a Brazilian. “I am happy to see that there is another Brazilian (Joel Santana) doing excellent work.”

During the game, a meeting with former South African president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday had seemed to work wonders for Bafana Bafana for most of the game.

After a bright start from Brazil, the South Africans began to create chances and Siboniso Gaxa shot wide before Mokoena headed over the bar from close range and Siphiwe Tshabalala saw a free-kick parried out by Julio Cesar in goal.

At the other end Ramires and Santos tested keeper Khune who saved comfortably each time, and Kaka fired a warning with a darting run and shot curled just wide of the post.

But the Brazilians generally created little and South Africa ended the half with a shot from the busy Steven Pienaar which fizzed just wide of the keeper`s right upright.

There was more to cheer for the near-capacity 48,049 crowd in Ellis Park stadium after the break when Julio Cesar had to scramble to his left post to turn a deflected Teko Modise shot wide.

The Brazilians lacked their usual fluency, and Luis Fabiano, the scorer of three goals in the tournament, was kept quiet by South Africa`s central defenders Mokoena and Matthew Booth, while Robinho and Kaka were often crowded out around the area.

As the game wore on it looked as if Dunga’s side would need a moment of individual brilliance to overcome the home side. Alves provided that, even if was from a set piece rather than open play.