This was a game that would probably not live long in the memory, but never the less with a several key players missing, coach Mano Menezes side still eased to victory.
Just as the two sides were about to kick the game off, the stadium experienced a flood light failure. It’d taken just over twenty minutes for the lights to be switched back on and for the game to finally get under way.
When the game did eventually get under way, both sides were finding it difficult to play with any fluidity. The awful state of the pitch made passing difficult but it was Brazil who got their game together first.
It had only taken twelve minutes for Menezes’ side to make the break through. Bruno Cesar’s cross found Gabon defender Remy Ebanega, who nearly stuck the ball in his own net. Goalkeeper Ovono managed to keep the ball out, but Tottenham’s Sandro pounced first on the rebound, poking the ball in to the net.
Brazil then started to dominate proceedings, and on the thirty fifth minute double their lead.
Former Gremio striker, Jonas, attempted a shot from the edge of the Gabonese area only for goalkeeper Ovono to parry the shot away. The ball however fell in to the path of Lazio midfielder Hernanes, and the twenty six year old made no mistake in guiding the ball in to the back of the net with his head.
When the two sides came out for the second half, it was debutant Bruno Cesar who nearly trebled Brazil’s lead with an audacious attempt from the half way line, that floated just wide of the Gabonese goal.
The biggest cheer of the night came when former Hull City striker Daniel Cousin entered the field. Gabon started to impose their game on Brazil, but never really tested Diego Alves’ goal.
Both sides made a number of a substitutions that ended up destroying the tempo of the game.
The final stages of the game didn’t see any real chances that would add to the score line and Brazil will now move on to prepare for Monday’s encounter with Egypt in Doha.
