HANOI, Aug 2: Brazil, led by AC Milan star Ronaldinho, beat Vietnam 2-0 in a friendly on Friday that served as a pre-Olympic warm-up for the South American giants.

Alexandre Pato of AC Milan scored the first goal in the sixth minute before a packed out crowd that included Vietnam’s President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi’s My Dinh 40,000-seat stadium.

But his second attempt to score in the 46th minute was warded off by Vietnam’s goalkeeper, Brazilian-born Fabio Dos Santos who became a naturalised Vietnamese citizen in December.

Vietnam nearly equalised just after half-time, in the 47th minute, when striker Nguyen Viet Thang took a bold shot at goal, which keeper Diego Alves deflected away to safety.

Midway through the half Nguyen Minh Duc shot from long range and hit the post. In the 81st minute Thiago Neves, voted the best player in the Brazilian league last year, scored Brazil’s second goal.

Two minutes later, Brazilian forward Jo, who recently inked a four-year deal with Manchester City, found the net, but the goal was disqualified as a Vietnamese player got pushed.—AFP