June 19, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1427

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Brazil 2 Australia 0

MUNICH, June 18: Goals from Adriano and Fred gave Brazil a 2-0 win over battling Australia and sent the world champions into the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday.

Adriano notched his first goal of the tournament four minutes into the second half after the South Americans had endured a frustrating first-half against Guus Hiddink's men.

Substitute Fred sealed the win in the 89th minute, rolling home a rebound after a Robinho shot came back off a post.

Australian Harry Kewell, who had just come on as a substitute, missed a great chance to equalise in the 57th minute, shooting over an empty goal after goalkeeper Dida dropped the ball.

Striker Ronaldo played poorly and was substituted for the second game running in another generally unconvincing performance by Brazil, who beat Croatia 1-0 in their opening game.

“We are getting better,” said midfielder Ze Roberto. “We will, I think, get better in every game.

“We tried to impose our style of play from the start but we were up against a very strong opponent who were strong in defence.”

Australia, who face Croatia in their last game, have three points while Japan and Croatia have one each in Group F.

Brazil's best first-half move came in the third minute.

Ronaldo controlled the ball on his chest and flicked the backwards to Kaka who volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area. If the ball had gone in, the game could have taken a completely different course.

Instead, Australia packed the midfield and hustled Brazil out of their stride with tenacious marking and tackling.

Brazilian pair Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were both subdued with only Kaka's penetrating runs offering any threat.

Ronaldo, who had a dismal match against Croatia, was again out of sorts and at one point had a heated argument with coach Carlos Alberto Parreira on the touchline.

His frustration was complete with a yellow card for playing on after he had been flagged offside.

The second half was only four minutes old when Brazil got the breakthrough they badly needed.

Ronaldinho picked out Ronaldo, who held off his marker and rolled the ball across the face of the penalty area to Adriano.

The Inter Milan striker, also struggling until then, took one touch and placed a low shot beyond goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's left hand.

Scorers: Brazil — Adriano 49, Fred 89

Halftime: 0-0.

BRAZIL (4-4-2): 1-Dida; 2-Cafu, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Roberto Carlos; 5-Emerson (17-Gilberto Silva 72), 11-Ze Roberto, 8-Kaka, 10-Ronaldinho; 9-Ronaldo (23-Robinho 72), 7-Adriano (21-Fred 88).

AUSTRALIA (4-5-1): 1-Mark Schwarzer; 2-Lucas Neill, 3-Craig Moore (15-John Aloisi 69), 6-Tony Popovic (23-Marco Bresciano 40), 5-Jason Culina; 7-Brett Emerton, 14-Scott Chipperfield, 13-Vince Grella, 4-Tim Cahill (10-Harry Kewell 56), 21-Mile Sterjovski; 9-Mark Viduka.Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).—Reuters

Group F standings

(Tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Brazil 2 2 0 0 3 0 6

Australia 2 1 0 1 3 3 3

Croatia 2 0 1 1 0 1 1

Japan 2 0 1 1 1 3 1