Soccer

Brazil take Argentina down in ‘Superclassico’

Diego Tardelli scores both goals as Messi misses a penalty for World Cup runners-up

Argentina’s Lionel Messi challenges Brazil’s Neymar during the ‘The Superclassico of the Americas’ in Beijing. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Argentina’s Lionel Messi challenges Brazil’s Neymar during the ‘The Superclassico of the Americas’ in Beijing. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Sat Oct 11 2014 - 16:22

Diego Tardelli scored both goals as Brazil beat fellow South American giants Argentina 2-0 in a Beijing tussle billed as the Superclassico.

The Atletico Mineiro striker grabbed the first after a defensive blunder in the Argentinian defence, and headed the second just after the hour mark.

For Argentina, Lionel Messi missed a penalty when Brazil's lead was just one goal, seeing his spot-kick saved by Jefferson.

It was a match that saw both teams under the new management following the World Cup, with Dunga in charge of Brazil and Gerardo Martino leading Argentina.

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New Manchester United recruit Angel Di Maria shone in the early stages for Argentina, spearheading a string of attacks, but Jefferson was repelling everything flung at him.

It was shocking defending that cost Brazil in the World Cup, when as hosts they crumpled to a shocking 7-1 defeat against Germany in the semi-finals, but this time the defensive calamity was from those in blue and white.

It came in the 28th minute when Oscar crossed a rather innocuous ball from the right, that Federico Fernandez and Pablo Zabaleta both went after.

But the Swansea centre-back and Manchester City right-back got in each other’s way, with an unconvincing header from Fernandez landing only at the feet of Tardelli, to the left of goal, who drilled a low right-footed volley across goal and into the far corner.

Argentina appeared fortunate to be handed a penalty in the 40th minute when Di Maria went down in the 18-yard box, under a challenge from Danilo. The defender looked to take the ball, with Di Maria stumbling to the ground, and there was a sense of justice when Messi’s soft penalty to the left corner was pushed out by the Brazil goalkeeper.

Oscar played a part in both goals, the Chelsea man delivering the corner for the second.

His inswinging centre from the left was met first by former club-mate David Luiz who glanced it across goal, and Tardelli found a foot of space from where he nodded in, goalkeeper Sergio Romero only able to help the ball into the top right corner.

Neymar had been troubling the Argentina defence all game and had a chance to plunder a third goal but could not get his lob quite right.

Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano summed up the frustration in the World Cup finalists' ranks, saying: "We made a good start in the first half, having several chances, and then, after a mistake, they found the opener. Sadly, in the second half, we could not cause any damage."

Team-mate Zabaleta added: “We are in a changing process, with a new manager. It will take a while until we know each other better. I hate losing and more so against Brazil, but it is part of the learning.”