Brazil advance

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Luis Fabiano scored a pair of goals and Elano added another as Brazil beat Cte d'Ivoire 3-1 yesterday to secure a spot in the second round of the World Cup with a match to spare in Group G.

Luis Fabiano scored his first goal in six matches for Brazil with a powerful right-footer in the 25th minute from a difficult angle after a perfect pass between two defeners by Kaka.

He doubled the lead with a contentious goal in the 50th with a left-footer from near the penalty spot after beating two defenders inside the area. TV replays appeared to show Luis Fabiano handling the ball twice to gain control.

Elano scored Brazil's third goal in the 62nd after another set-up by Kaka, who was sent off in the 88th after being booked twice within four minutes in a spiteful finish.

Didier Drogba, in the starting line-up for the first time since breaking his right arm on June 4, scored the lone goal for Cte d'Ivoire with a header in the 79th.

It was a physical match at Soccer City, with hard fouls from both sides and players confronting each other at times. Kaka got into an altercation with Kader Keita near the end of the match and was ejected after a second yellow card.

Keita appeared to run into Kaka while going for a ball, but Cte d'Ivoire players were upset with the play and went after Kaka. The Brazilians quickly came to defend Kaka and a shoving match nearly began.

Rough play

"The red card was completely unfair," Brazil coach Dunga said.

Kaka did not want to talk about the red card, but complained of rough play by the Cte d'Ivoire players.

"It was a tough match," he said. "It got violent in two or three plays there."

The victory at Soccer City gives Brazil six points from two matches, leaving the Cte d'Ivoire in difficult position to advance from the group stage.

Brazil have won all six matches played against African nations in the World Cup. Drogba's goal was the first Brazil conceded to African teams in football's marquee tournament.

"I think Brazil can go all the way," Eriksson said. "To beat Brazil you must be almost perfect."

Brazil had beaten North Korea 2-1 in the opener, while Cte d'Ivoire drew Portugal 0-0.

Showing poise

Kaka, coming off a season plagued by injuries, again was far from his best, but showed his poise by setting up Luis Fabiano's first-half goal and Elano's in the second half in front of 84,455 fans.

Brazil made some uncharacteristic passing mistakes in the beginning and was not able to take control of the match, allowing the Ivorians to threaten in counter-attacks and free-kicks.

Cte d'Ivoire put nearly all players on defence when Brazil held possession, leaving Drogba alone up front.

Drogba had surgery before the World Cup after breaking his arm in a warm-up match against Japan and had played less than half an hour as a substitute in Cte d'Ivoire's opening draw with Portugal. The Chelsea striker is playing with a special protective cast authorised by FIFA.

Today's Games

• Portugal vs Korea DPR at 6:30a.m.
• Chile vs Switzerland at 9:00a.m.
• Honduras vs Spain at 1:30p.m.