If in Goiania, in the friendly against Holland, the Brazilian team played a poor first half and a good second, in Sao Paulo, in a friendly that marked the departure of Ronaldo, the story was reversed. Brazil played well in the first part of the game when they scored the goal and, especially, in little more than fifteen minutes that Ronaldo was in the field.
A second game without passion on or off the field ended the patience of the fans who attended on a cold night in São Paulo. The team was booed, especially when Robinho was replaced towards end the game. Even winning coach Mano Menezes had to hear “Ole” from the stands when the weak Romanian team played the ball.
A good first half
After four minutes the first free kick was given for a foul on Fred near the area. The ball was played wide, but was diverted. Fom it, Lucio’s shot was well saved and Robinho failed to score from the rebound.
The game was slowly warming up with several good chances for Brazil. Neymar was playing beautifully and appeared to be the best player on the field. Fred wasted a good chance, before good work from Maicon led to a chance for Neymar, but his shot came hit the side netting.
The lack of goals made the fans ask for Ronaldo, who has become synonymous with the ball hitting the back of the net. He had began warming up when Brazil took the lead. A one-two between Jadson and Neymar led to the latter squaring the ball for Fred to tap into an empty net, and make it 1-0 to Brazil.
There were nine minutes until the expected entry of Ronaldo on the field, and the crowd saw a mixture of ecstasy and celebration for the goal by the phenomenon, who was being shown on screen getting ready for the game.
After half an hour, the moment everyone had been waiting for: Ronaldo on the field in place of goalscorer Fred, and so began the most exciting 15 minutes of the game.
Six minutes later saw a move that most touched the stadium. The Brazil strikers were always looking for Ronaldo and trying to help him get a goal. He received a good pass from Neymar not far from goal, but his shot was saved by the Romanian goalkeeper Tatarusanu.
Fans were still lamenting what could have been the only chance for Ronaldo in 15 minutes of play when, on 39 minutes, Ronaldo got free inside the area in a typical position that he would score, but he fired wide. There was still applause for the phenomenon, as the game at the time was indeed phenomenal. Shortly afterwards, Ronaldo ran behind the defence but missed his third chance due to another good save by the keeper. For those who doubted that the phenomenon could produce something in the game, ten minutes from Ronaldo on the field were already the best Brazil had played so far.
At the end of the first half, Victor and Maicon almost ruined Ronaldo’s cameo by combining to score an own goal, but the half finished 1-0 to Brazil.
Applause for Ronaldo at halftime, boos for the second half selection.
In the words of the John Bosco song played at half-teim, “The show must go on.” And it was the Brazilian team on the field, who now followed his example without Ronaldo. And the first act was the replacement of Ronaldo with Nilmar. It was the signal that the tests for the Copa America continued. But the show was not the best.
The crowd, a little disappointed with the cold, and the climax of the last farewell to Ronaldo, saw the first chance emerge to Jadson ten minutes into the second half.
Brazil did not play a second half as good as the first but dominated the possession. On 62 minutes, Nilmar shot into the hands of the goalkeeper. Moments later, Brazil was denied again when Neymar had a chance saved.
The fans from Sao Paulo, impatient with the team’s dip in form, and bad tempered, chanted for Ronaldo to return. Another application for part of the stadium was granted. Lucas came on for Robinho, who was booed, despite a good performance.
Luisão came on in place of Lucio and Thiago Neves in place of Neymar, which showed that tests for the Copa America remained a priority in the final fifteen minutes.
With ten minutes remaining, the supporters showed a touch of humour in São Paulo in the cold night. Despite the victory, due to the weak performance, Mano Menezes had to hear the fans shouting ole every time the weak Eastern Europeans touched the ball. Nilmar almost made it two to silence the critics, but could not convert.
One chance, a shot from outside the area by Romania, was the moment that goalkeeper Victor could demonstrate his use to the team.
At the end of the game there were boos for the selection, but the feeling it was worth it to see the historic game by Ronaldo.
