Brazil continue Menezes´ unbeaten run

Brazil made it three wins out of three for new coach Mano Menezes here on Monday as they beat Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine 2-0 in an international friendly watched by just 13,000 spectators in a ground with a 33,000 capacity.

The Brazilians – who are rebuilding after their disappointing World Cup where they went out in the quarter-finals beaten by the Netherlands – scored a goal in each half through star fullback Dani Alves and AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato.

Alves, who along with Robinho were the only two survivors from the starting line-up from the Dutch match, struck for the second game in succession midway through the first-half.

The Barcelona star met Robinho’s cross from the right wing and his volley beat the Ukrainian keeper Andriy Dykan after taking a slight deflection off a defender.

The Brazilians should have added a second in the 35th minute after Ukraine lost possession inside their own half.

Pato got clear but his shot cannoned off the post and Carlos Eduardo following up was unable to keep his effort down and it went well over the bar.

However, Eduardo made up for his miss when he created Brazil’s second goal in the 64th minute as he found Pato – who was left out of the World Cup squad – in the penalty area and the AC Milan ace turned his marker and slotted past Dykan.

Alves went agonisingly close to making it 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining as his freekick from just outside the penalty area grazed the crossbar.

The Ukrainians – deprived of their veteran star Andriy Shevchenko because of a slight thigh injury – rarely threatened though they had the ball in the net once through Oleksandr Aliyev but it was ruled out.

The first major target for Menezes, who succeeded Dunga who was axed after Brazil’s World Cup failure, will be a successful defence of the Brazilian’s Copa America title in Argentina next year.

Thusfar the 48-year-old former Corinthians coach has guided the Brazilians to victories over the United States and Iran and will face bitter rivals Argentina in Doha on November 17.