SPORTS Saturday, June 10, 2017 21 Argentina down Brazil in ‘Superclasico’ Melbourne Argentina have a friendly in Mercado put Argentina ahead goal-mouth in the 62nd minute. rgentina gained a Singapore next week ahead of their just on half-time with a tap in after “It’s easier to analyse a game when confidence-boosting 1-0 win crucial next qualifier against Uruguay Nicolas Otamendi’s header came off we win,” Brazilian manager Tite said. Aover Brazil in their Superclasico in Montevideo on August 31. the upright into his path. “The team played well, but we had in Melbourne yesterday ahead of In manager ’s first The Argentines had more of the some trouble marking their top players their make-or-break World Cup game in charge Argentina weathered play with Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel in the first half, and they were playing qualifiers later in the year. a second-half fightback from Brazil Di Maria a constant threat on the left. faster than us. “In the second half, we A goal from Sevilla defender with Gabriel Jesus and Willian hitting Brazil’s best chance came midway had more possession and played better. Gabriel Mercado right on half- either posts in one flurry on goal. through the opening half when “We had the effort and the formation time proved the eventual winner Argentina’s superstar and skipper Chelsea’s Willian was set free and we wanted but we need more of the as Argentina matched the world’s was largely contained he found Liverpool’s lively Philippe players performing at a higher level.” number one ranked Brazilians by the Brazilian defence, but thrilled Coutinho in Argentina’s penalty area. The flying Willian was a constant before 95,000 fans at the Melbourne the crowd with his touches, flicks and Coutinho checked inside and threat and one of his pinpoint crosses Cricket Ground. darting runs in his much-anticipated lined up a shot but a diving tackle almost led to another goal chance for The two-time world champions appearance in Australia. by Otamendi smothered the scoring Jesus. and second ranked team “I really rate the performance of our chance. Messi was sent tumbling by a robust are struggling outside the players today, even when they were not Juventus Paulo Dybala Rafinha challenge late in the game automatic qualifying positions in the most comfortable situations,” linked up well with Messi behind which earned the Brazilian substitute Argentina’s Gabriel in fifth spot in the South Sampaoli told reporters. “I think that striker Gonzalo Higuain and fired just a yellow card. Mercado (C) heads American group with four some of our preparation wasn’t the wide moments before Mercado’s goal. Jesus failed to finish the match when the ball games left while Brazil best, but in the game the team played Brazil had several chances to score he was carried off and taken to hospital have already qualified for well and defended the Argentina shirt. in the second half with Manchester for observation after collecting an the World Cup finals in “It’s a very important win for us –- it City’s Jesus and Willian both hitting elbow in the face in an aerial challenge next year. wasn’t just another game.” either post in a flurry in Argentina’s in the final minutes. (AFP) Russia rally for a Kane to captain England against Scotland 1-1 draw with Glasgow reporters at Hampden. ottenham Hotspur “I’ve shared the leadership striker Harry Kane will around and that’s been onfederations Cup captainT England in Saturday’s important for us as a team. hosts Russia and Copa World Cup qualifier against People said there were a lack of AmericaC holders Chile played Scotland in Glasgow, manager leaders. I don’t think that’s the out a 1-1 draw here yesterday Gareth Southgate announced case. “Harry’s one of a number in a first ever meeting between yesterday. of people I could have given the sides in the post-Soviet era. With Wayne Rooney the opportunity to. A couple of Mauricio Isla of Cagliari was on having again been overlooked, others have already done it and target for the South Americans, while England do not currently I wanted to give him that boost CSKA Moscow full back have a permanent captain and for tomorrow’s game.” fired his side level. Southgate said Kane, 23, would Kane will be making his first Russia started in a lively fashion wear the armband at Hampden appearance under Southgate, looking for an early opener but the Park. having missed England’s Russia’s midfielder (L) attempts of Spartak Moscow “Harry Kane will captain the last six games due to various and Chile’s midfielder Charles Aranguiz Denis Glushakov and Dmitry Kombarov side tomorrow,” Southgate told injuries. (AFP) vie for the ball lacked accuracy. Chile replied positively and Isla forced Russia’s goalie into 2018 World Cup qualifying results: a diving save in the 13th minute. well-served corner by Kombarov. Andorra 1 Hungary 0 sent the ball home with a header Herrera also have to produce an impressive with six minutes remaining before the break but diving save with five minutes to go to deny an Belarus 2 Bulgari 1 his goal was ruled off as the Bayern midfielder overhead attempt by Glushakov from 12 yards Bosnia and had fouled Fedor Kudryashov just before scoring. out. Russia, who are in Confederations Cup Herzegovina 0 Greece 0 In the 56th minute second-half substitute Group A, will face New Zealand, European Estonia 0 Belgium 2 Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal chipped the ball into champions Portugal and Mexico, while Chile Faroe Islands 0 Switzerland 2 the area to the unmarked Isla and he kept his will clash with World Cup holders Germany, cool to send it into the bottom left corner. Australia and Cameroon in Group B. Gibraltar 1 Cyprus 2 Russia poured forward in attack seeking an Russia will stage the Confed Cup in four cities: Latvia 0 Portugal 3 equaliser and Vasin pulled the scores level 11 Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi from Netherlands 5 Luxembourg 0 minutes later with an eight-yard header off a June 17. (AFP) Sweden 2 France 1