Brazil hunt down Elephants

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A little piece of magic from Luis Fabiano’s boot, and a not so magical moment from the striker’s chiselled bicep, set Brazil on their way to the next round with a comfortable 3-1 win over Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group G match at the Soccer City Stadium here on Sunday.

Dunga’s Brazil finally lived up to their reputation of playing Joga Bonita, and with Kaka hitting his stride in the second-half things looked rosy for the five-time world champions. However, with the three points in the bag the Real Madrid attacker was sent off late after picking up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes.
The Brazilian ace was involved in an altercation with Barcelona hardman Yaya Toure, who had kept close tabs on him the entire match, in the 85th minute and both were shown a yellow card.
Three minutes later, Kaka used his elbow to ward off a charging Kader Keita, who made the most of the challenge and fell down theatrically clutching his face even though the Brazilian’s elbow had just grazed his rib-cage. The referee reached for his pocket and flashed Kaka his second yellow, while Keita got away scot-free.
Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba pulled a goal back for the Ivorians in the 78th minute, but that was about all as Sven-Goran Erikkson’s men were played off the park.
The Samba Boys didn’t have the strongest start to the match, but still went ahead with their first meaningful attack of the game thanks to a typically Brazilian passing move. Fabiano got the ball well outside the penalty box and cheekily back-heeled it to Robinho who found Kaka between a couple of defenders.
The Real Madrid ace slid the ball between the lunging legs of two defenders as Fabiano burst into the penalty box, collected it and finished with a sublime effort that goalkeeper Boubacar Barry could not even get a hand to as the ball went straight from the side of Fabiano’s stud to the top of the net in nanoseconds.
In the second-half Brazil broke free. Kaka was at the centre of it all, but before he got into the act Fabiano got his second in most controversial circumstances. The Sevilla frontman showed great control, but as replays confirmed he literally flexed his muscles to get the ball into the net.
Fabiano used his bicep to control the ball not once, but twice before slotting it home.
However, referee Stephane Lannoy failed to spot either infringement and let the goal stand.