Sweden 0 Brazil1:ALEXANDRE PATO last night confirmed what has been trumpeted across South America and San Siro for some time: that he has the makings of a star.
The 18-year-old made only a cameo appearance, emerging as one of many second-half substitutes, but his impact was significant; he scored the only goal with an audacious lob.
His timing could not have been better. He made his debut in a match that marked the 50th anniversary of the first of Brazil's five World Cup triumphs, when they beat then hosts Sweden 5-2 in the final. A 17-year-old Pele scored twice that day in Stockholm and while Pato's entrance to the global stage was less dramatic it will still draw comparisons.
Nine of the players in the starting line-ups are current or former Premier League players, a graphic illustration of the global pull of England's top division. However, two men representing the Bundesliga and La Liga caught the eye at the outset.
Diego of Werder Bremen and Real Madrid's Robinho interchanged positions from the start, one dropping behind the lone striker in Luis Fabiano, the other patrolling the right wing, a tactic that immediately created space and uncertainty in Swedish territory.
On six minutes, Diego, lurking in a central position some 45 yards from goal, launched a pass to the right flank, where Robinho collected the ball and moved into box in one movement.
The 24-year-old, however, allowed the angle to get the better of him and sliced his shot just wide of the near post.
Then it was Diego's turn to test Swedish nerves directly. Having swapped positions with Robinho again, the 23-year-old picked up the ball on the right edge of the box and, with head down and chest out, he drove at goal left-footed. But as with his team-mate, the effort did not force Andreas Isaksson to make a save.
Brazil were undoubtedly on top as the first half shifted towards its halfway mark but they were by no means dominating and, indeed, it was Sweden who almost scored the first goal. Markus Rosenberg burst through a static defence on 25 minutes but one-on-one with Julio Cesar his shot went wide of the near post.
On the restart Johan Elmander almost headed a floated free-kick from Diego past former Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban, on at the interval for Isaksson.
On 61 minutes, Brazil sent on Anderson to replace another former Arsenal player, Julio Baptista, to a chorus of boos as the north London crowd disapproved of the arrival of a player who has helped Manchester United climb to the top of the Premier League, and Alexandre Pato came on for Luis Fabiano.
In contrast Pato's entrance was greeted with cheers. The much-vaunted Milan forward played in the goalless Champions League draw here last month, and there was an obvious expectation that he would deliver.
The two substitutes combined for the only goal when Anderson lifted a pass into the Sweden box.
Shaaban allowed the ball to bounce off his chest and as it fell to Pato he did not hesitate in lifting it over the goalkeeper and into the net.
SWEDEN:Isaksson (Shaaban 46), Stoor, Mellberg, Majstorovic, Nilsson (Dorsin 46), Larsson (Alexandersson 80), Svensson (Allback 49), Kallstrom, Ljungberg (Wilhelmsson 57), Elmander (Bakircioglu 61), Rosenberg. Subs not used: Andersson, Prica, Risp.
BRAZIL:Julio Cesar, Daniel (Rafinha 73), Lucio, Alex, Richarlyson (Marcelo 73), Julio Baptista (Anderson 60), Silva, Josue (Hernanes 63), Ribas Diego (Thiago Neves 65), Luis Fabiano (Alexandre Pato 60), Robinho. Subs not used: Alves Diego, Lucas, Rafael Sobis, Leo, Naldo.
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
