MOTD- Brazil 1-1 Russia

By on March 25, 2013

Russia have managed a good draw against Luiz Scolari’s Brazil side at Stamford Bridge in London, with the Brazilians win-less in their last three matches.  Surprisingly, Russia started the match on top, and almost got on the scoreboard in the third minute when Sergei Ignashevich hit a dipping free-kick from thirty-yards out.  Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar could only parry the the low swerving shot, but the rebound came to nothing.  In the ninth minute Vasily Berezutskiy received the ball just outside the Brazil box form the remains of a Russia corner, and Berezutskiv volleyed the ball.  The defender’s volley appeared to bounce off Fernando Lucas hand, but referee Howard Webb was unmoved despite a complete change in the ball direction.  Soon after Anderson Hernanes was forced into a brilliant last-ditch tackle to block Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s shot at the far post, and Brazil hardly looked like they could keep control of the ball.  Vladimir Bystrov tried his luck form twenty-two yards out in the sixteenth minute, and Cesar made a routine save.

Brazil woke up from their horrible start and started pressing Russia, but despite Neymar curling a shot inches wide and a Marcelo shot being tipped wide by Russia goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov, the Selecao could not find the back of the net.  Brazil almost scored in the thirty-fifth minute when Marcelo latched on to a cross from the left and headed just wide.  Russia did get one great chance towards the end of the half when Vikto Faizulin played the ball to Kerzakhov on a counter-attack, and Kerzakhov played the ball back to Faitzulin on the left side of the box.  Faitzulin hit a thundering shot to the near post, and Cesar just got a tip on it to take the ball wide.  Brazil were still dominant though, but they couldn’t score and the first half ended 0-0.

The second half started slowly, and the first chance was a low Marcelo shot from the edge of the box that Gabulov easily collected.  Brazil had much of the possession, and seconds after Marcelo’s effort Neymar curled a shot from the edge of the box, but it was straight at Gabulov.  Amazingly, Russia took the lead in the seventy-sixth minute following a goal mouth scramble.  After three earlier shots in the scramble, Roman Shirokov got the ball six yards out from goal, and hit a low shot.  Fernando cleared the shot off the line, but it fell to Faitzulin in the center of the box, and the Zenit Saint-Petersburg forward hit a low shot that snuck into the back of the net to put Russia 1-0 up.

Brazil immediately tired to find an equalizer, and Marcelo flashed a shot inches wide moments after the goal.  In the eighty-second minute Lucas hit a long range shot straight at Gabulov, and Brazil looked like they were headed for a second loss in three matches.  But Brazil managed to dramatically find the back in the second minute of extra time when Hulk freed Marcelo on the left side of the Russia box.  The Real Madrid left-back played the ball across the box to Fred, and the Fluminense star tapped the ball in from four yards out to level the score.  Brazil could not find a late winner though, and the match ended 1-1 with Brazil win-less in their last three matches.
Man of the Match: Marcelo

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.