Harare: Brazil defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 in a World Cup warmup on Wednesday thanks to goals from Michel Bastos, Robinho and Elano.
An almost full-strength Brazil team made a sloppy start at Harare’s National Sports Stadium but picked up the pace to earn a comfortable victory with less than two weeks to go before its World Cup debut.
The five-time world champion suffered a scare, though, with first-choice goalkeeper Julio Cesar forced off injured in the 26th minute. The Champions League winner with Inter Milan left the field walking and the extent of the injury was not immediately known.
Left back Michel Bastos opened the scoring with a powerful free kick in the 41st minute, winger Robinho added a second from inside the penalty area in the 44th and midfielder Elano wrapped things up from close range in the 56th.
It was Brazil’s first warmup since arriving in Africa to begin its World Cup preparations. It will face Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Sunday in its final match before opening its campaign against North Korea in Johannesburg on June 15.
Brazil, wearing a blue strip, made too many passing errors early on and encountered problems at the back against 110th-ranked Zimbabwe, which will not be playing in the World Cup.
The African side had two great chances to open the scoring as President Robert Mugabe watched from the tribunes. Ovidy Karuru missed an open goal in the 19th by shooting over the crossbar, and Knowledge Musona’s header in the 27th was just kept out by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who had come on for Julio Cesar.
Brazil quickly bounced back and scored twice before halftime.
Michel Bastos blasted home a left-footed free kick from just outside the area before Robinho ran onto a long pass by right back Maicon to score with a first-time finish from inside the area.
In the second half, Elano grabbed the third after a cross by substitute defender Daniel Alves but Brazil, which made six substitutions in all, was unable to add to the scoring.
Brazil started with most of the players expected to be in its first-choice lineup, with the exception of defender Thiago Silva, who replaced Juan in central defense.
Brazil hadn’t played since its friendly win against Ireland in March. It was its first match against Zimbabwe.
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