Robinho sparkles as Brazil defeat Ireland

LONDON, (Reuters) – Robinho made a productive return  to England ysterday, scoring one goal and setting up the other  to guide five-times world champions Brazil to a 2-0 win over  Ireland in a friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Brazil took the lead when a cross from the right by striker  Robinho, who seemed to be in an offside position when he  received the ball from Kaka, was turned into his own net from  close range by Keith Andrews one minute before halftime.

Substitute Daniel Alves should have doubled the lead after  the break when he rounded Ireland keeper Shay Given and shot  wide of the empty net.

Robinho, who ended an unhappy spell with Manchester City by  returning home to join former club Santos on loan in January,  added a second on 76 minutes with a neat side-footed finish  following a quick passing move involving Kaka and Grafite.

“Robinho is someone who has always had big emotion for the  national team and he was decisive today,” Brazil coach Dunga  told reporters.

“Sometimes people … talk bad about him. Everybody can go  through a good or a bad moment but … certain players are very  important to us and the whole team has to be behind those  players.”

Ireland matched Brazil in the first half but the South  Americans were completely on top in the second period, with  Robinho and Kaka combining particularly well.

The only blot on the evening for Robinho came in the second  half when he spooned a chance over the bar from eight metres  after another flowing move down the right.

Brazil begin their World Cup challenge when they face Group  G rivals North Korea in Johannesburg on June 15. They then face  Ivory Coast five days later and Portugal on June 25.

Ireland were playing their first game since their World Cup  qualification dreams ended in despair in November when France  claimed a controversial playoff victory.

“For 45 minutes we saw a very beautiful game,” said Ireland  coach Giovanni Trapattoni. “I think we played at the same level  as Brazil.

“I thought in this moment we could also hope … for a good  result (but) the first goal was offside by one metre,” added the  Italian.