Brazil edge Argentina, Dutch deny Belgium

Brazil have beaten Argentina 1-0 in their soccer friendly, Belgium and the Netherlands played out a draw while a Colombia debutant scored twice in their win.

Brazil trophy

Brazil celebrate with the trophy in Jeddah after their international friendly win over Argentina. (AAP)

Miranda's stoppage-time header has earned Brazil a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Argentina in an international friendly in Saudi Arabia.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands came from behind to draw 1-1 with neighbours Belgium to complete a good week after their Nations League win over Germany, Denmark beat Austria and Japan won a seven-goal affair against Uruguay.

Argentina were without star player Lionel Messi, who is spending an indefinite period away from the national team squad after their World Cup disappointment.

Miranda headed over from a Neymar corner early on and then the defender saw an effort cleared off the line by Nicolas Otamendi.

Tite's Brazil shaded a dull first half but Argentina started the second period on the front foot.

Mauro Icardi fired an effort wide of the near post and interim Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni sent Lautaro Martinez on for Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, who failed to break his international duck on his 16th appearance.

Casemiro zipped a dead-ball effort inches past the post as Brazil finished the stronger, with Miranda eventually pouncing in stoppage time, nodding in a Neymar corner.

"I'm very happy, first of all to help my teammates, and scoring against Argentina is exciting and gratifying," Miranda said.

"The goal is dedicated to this who believed in me and supported me, to my family."

In Brussels, Dries Mertens struck after just five minutes for Belgium against the Dutch with a brilliant effort, rifled into the top corner after a loose ball found him on the edge of the box.

However, Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld equalised at the end of a quick break, after being teed up by Memphis Depay.

Quincy Promes hit the post for the Dutch in an entertaining game, while Belgium's Michy Batshuayi fired wide when through on goal.

Lukas Learner and Martin Brathwaite were on target for Denmark in a 2-0 win over Austria, while Albert Rusnak's late goal earned Slovakia a 1-1 draw in Sweden.

Japan defeated Uruguay 4-3 and South Korea squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Panama in Cheonan.

Takumi Minamino (10th), Yuya Osako (36th), Ritsu Doan (59th) and Takumi Minamino (66th) scored for Japan in Saitama while Gaston Pereiro (28th), Edinson Cavani (57th) and Jonathan Rodriguez(75th) replied for the visitors.

Colombia debutant Juan Camilo 'Cucho' Hernandez scored the first of his two goals only 32 seconds after arriving on the field in a 3-1 win against Costa Rica in New Jersey.

The 19-year-old striker entered the game in the 71st minute and scored within a minute to restore Colombia's advantage before he sealed the win with a goal on 90 minutes.

Nicolas Castillo followed up his own stinging drive to score in the 89th minute and give Chile a 1-0 win over Mexico in Queretaro.

A late goal from Edison Flores cancelled out Joshua Sargent's earlier strike to give Peru a 1-1 draw with the United States in Connecticut.

Uzbekistan beat World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar 2-0, Venezuela won 2-0 away against United Arab Emirates and Iran saw off Bolivia 2-1, with women allowed to watch from the stands for the first time in 40 years.

Oman drew 0-0 against Ecuador, China defeated Syria 2-0 and Indonesia drew 1-1 with Hong Kong.


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3 min read
Published 17 October 2018 3:20pm
Source: AAP


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