Brazil might of been surprised in the first quarter of the game with Egypt showing great determination to take the game to the five times world champions. The 2010 African cup of nations champions were controlling the majority of possesion and even forced goalkeeper Diego Alves to pull of a great save to deny Skiabala’s effort from a free kick.
However, Brazil soon managed to eventually find their feet, with the Egyptians defence finding it difficult to handle the strength of the Porto striker, Hulk. The twenty five year had a great opportunity to get the Selecao in to the lead, managing to shrug off two Egyptian defenders to put himself through on goal, only to send it effort way over the cross bar.
Five minutes before half time, Hulk was at the centre of attention once again. The forward broke free from the right hand side, finding his way in to the Egyptian area unchallenged, then with some great vision, squared the ball across the face of goal, to pick out Jonas arriving at back post to score his first international goal for his country.
As the two sides came out for the second half, it took Brazil no less than a minute to nearly double their lead. Fernandinho split the Egyptian defence in half with a ball that Jonas ran on to. The striker rounded goalkeeper, Al Shenawy, but his effort was denied by defender Hegazi just before it crossed the line.
An hour in to the game, Brazil doubled their lead. An in swinging free kick from Benfica striker, Bruno Cesar found Fernandinho, who’s header was parried in to the path of Jonas, who from yards out, made no mistake on getting his getting second international goal.
After the goal, the determined spirit Egypt showed at the opening stages of the game seemed to of died down. Brazil were almost playing down the clock, but had one good opportunity from Hernanes who’s shot went across the face of goal and just wide.
Menezes can feel satisfied with his sides display on the night. Whilst lacking a bit of Brazilian flair, the Samba boys’ put in a very assured performance in their last fixture of the year.
As for Bob Bradley’s Egyptian side, they’ll be hoping they’ll give Brazil more of a game when the two sides meet again in February (2012).
