Brazil's Ronaldinho (R) challenges Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah
during the international friendly at Craven Cottage in
London. Photo: ACTION IMAGES/Paul Childs VIA REUTERS
Brazil, with playmaker Ronaldinho back in the side,
struggled to beat 10-man Ghana 1-0 in a friendly at Fulham's
Craven Cottage ground in London.
Leandro Damiao struck the only goal on the stroke of
halftime, running on to a defence-splitting ball from
Fernandinho and finding the corner of the net from a tight
angle.
It was one of the few moments of invention from the former
world champions, even with the crafty Ronaldinho returning
for his first international appearance since November after
showing excellent form for Brazilian title contenders
Flamengo.
Ghana never threatened after having defender Daniel Opare
sent off in the 32nd minute, a series of over exuberant
challenges earning him repeated warnings from Mike Dean
before the English referee ran out of patience.
The game started at a furious pace but the red card changed
things, with Ghana retreating after halftime in a bid to keep
Brazil at bay.
The match occasionally threatened to boil over as Dean
produced seven yellow cards in addition to the two cautions
received by Opare.
Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner in 2002, only came to the fore
towards the end.
He delivered a perfect cross to provide substitute Alexandre
Pato with a header that forced a brilliant save from Ghana's
new goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey.
The Norwegian-born keeper, winning his second cap, then saved
a free kick by Ronaldinho in the 89th minute.
The win for Brazil, who will host the 2014 World Cup,
followed their unexpectedly early elimination from the Copa
America in July and a 3-2 defeat by Germany in a friendly in
Stuttgart last month.
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