Brazil romp over Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE: Ronaldinho scored a hat-trick as world champions Brazil cantered to a 6-0 win over Haiti in a friendly dubbed the “Peace Match” on Wednesday.
Fluminense midfielder Roger chipped in with two on his debut and substitute Nilmar completed the scoring.
The highlight was Ronaldinho's first goal in the 33rd minute when he waltzed through a bemused Haiti defence with an effort that was jeered by the home crowd.
The match, aimed at promoting peace between the warring factions in the Caribbean country, was arranged on the initiative of the Brazilian government, whose troops lead the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country.
A capacity 15,000 crowd watched the game, played on a newly-laid artificial pitch.
The five-times world champions were never stretched against a Haiti team who have already been knocked out of the 2006 World Cup qualifying competition after being beaten by Jamaica over two legs.
Brazil included some of their top players such as Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos but others did not play because their European clubs refused to release them.
The absentees included AC Milan trio Kaka, Cafu and Dida and Bayern Munich duo Ze Roberto and Lucio.
Although the match was on a date allocated by FIFA for friendlies, European clubs are not obliged to release players for games in other continents.
Playing their first game since winning the Copa America in Peru last month, Brazil went ahead when Roger scored on the turn in the 20th minute.
Ronaldinho added his breathtaking solo effort before Ronaldo broke clear of the Haiti defence to lay on the third goal for Roger three minutes before halftime.
Ronaldo went off at halftime but Brazil continued to dominate.
The fourth came from a Ronaldinho free kick in the 67th minute and the Barcelona forward completed his hat-trick when he swept Juninho Pernambucano's pass home from near the penalty spot with seven minutes left.
He then set up the sixth for Nilmar.
Brazil's next game is a World Cup qualifier at home to Bolivia on Sept 5. They face Germany away in a friendly three days later. – Reuters
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