Soccer - Brazil fail to sparkle in 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Saudi Arabia's Omar Hawsawi in action with Brazil's Renato Augusto REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
RIYADH (Reuters) - Goals near the end of each half from Gabriel Jesus and Alex Sandro gave Brazil a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Friday in an unusually subdued performance by the five-times world champions.
Brazil had scored 16 goals in their four previous wins against the Saudis but the home side matched the visitors, particularly in midfield, for most of the game.
Brazil had the better of the first half and Jesus finally broke the deadlock just two minutes from halftime when he ran on to an inch-perfect pass from Neymar and slotted the ball home from an angle.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Renato Augusto in action during the match REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Forward Neymar was again Brazil's best player but his team mates let him down with their finishing as Saudi Arabia came into the match more in the second period.
The hosts could not score, however, and it fell to Sandro to give the scoreline a more realistic look when he headed home Neymar's corner in the sixth minute of stoppage-time.
Brazil also had two efforts disallowed for offside and Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais was sent off five minutes from time after VAR confirmed he handled the ball outside the box.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Philippe Coutinho in action with Saudi Arabia's Yaseer Al-Shahrani REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
"We're aware we need to get better, that we can do better," Sandro said. "Obviously the climate was influential, we have new players who need to fit in, but we deserve congratulations."
Brazil's next game is against Argentina in Jeddah on Tuesday.
The Argentines beat Iraq 4-0 on Thursday to extend their unbeaten run since the World Cup to three games.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Gabriel Jesus in action with Saudi Arabia's Ali Al-Bulayhi REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
(Reporting by Andrew Downie, editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Neymar in action with Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Al-Bishi and Abdullah Otayf REUTERS/Faisal Al NasserSoccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Gabriel Jesus in action with Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Al-Bishi REUTERS/Faisal Al NasserSoccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Neymar in action with Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Otayf REUTERS/Faisal Al NasserSoccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Gabriel Jesus in action REUTERS/Faisal Al NasserSoccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Saudi Arabia fans inside the stadium REUTERS/Waleed AliSoccer Football - International Friendly - Saudi Arabia v Brazil - King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 12, 2018 Brazil's Marquinhos in action with Saudi Arabia's Hatan Babhir REUTERS/Waleed Ali
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