Brazil 2-1 Uruguay.
Brazil scraped into the final of the Confederations Cup with victory
in an emotional and highly-charged encounter at the Estadio Mineirao.
Paulinho's late header ensured the Selecao finally saw
off a resilient Uruguay to set up a clash with Spain or Italy in the
Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Fred had given Brazil a scarcely-deserved first-half lead, prodding home Neymar's cross. But Uruguay hit back shortly after the interval when Edinson Cavani capitalised on an error from Brazil captain Thiago Silva to strike a low shot beyond Julio Cesar.
Home goalkeeper Cesar had earlier saved
Diego Forlan's first-half penalty, after David Luiz pulled down Uruguay
captain Diego Lugano.
This was a test of character and spirit for Luiz Felipe
Scolari's Brazil but the jubilation among the players and coaching
staff at the final whistle showed just how much this meant. Brazil never
approached their fluent best but they did just enough to get over the
line.
The build-up had been every bit as passionate and spiky as the game itself. Cesar had described the rivalry between the nations as more intense than that of Brazil's with Argentina, while Uruguay captain Diego Lugano had accused Neymar of attempting to fool referees by diving.
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