Brazil escapes with a point

BRAZIL struggled to an uninspiring goalless draw away to Colombia in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign today.

The only team to have played at all 18 World Cups, Brazil is likely to be happier with the point, achieved at 2600 metres above sea level on a slippery pitch, than its lacklustre performance.

Despite making wholesale changes from its Copa America squad and fielding an inexperienced team, Colombia had most of the pressure and Brazil became less adventurous as the game went on.

“Considering that we were playing away from home, at high altitude, on a heavy pitch, it was a reasonable start to the qualifiers,” Brazil coach Dunga said.

“The first half was evenly balanced and we had a few chances. In the second half, we lacked speed and strength and the players felt tired.

“If Colombia play like they did today against Brazil, they will qualify.”

Brazil forward Ronaldinho was also satisfied. “With the pitch and the altitude, it was a good point because I don’t think many other teams will come here and get a point,” he said.

The match kicked off 45 minutes late after a torrential downpour left puddles on the pitch but the water drained away quickly.

Backed by a passionate crowd at the El Campin stadium, Colombia took the game to Brazil and Radamel Falcao Garcia was close after a well-worked move from a free kick in the third minute.

Colombia striker Wason Renteria twice forced Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar to make difficult saves from headers and the visitors were so uncomfortable that Julio Cesar was booked for time-wasting in the 44th minute.

Brazil’s best first-half effort came when Ronaldinho had a shot from a narrow angle turned around the post by Agustin Julio.

Colombia continued to press forward after half-time and Julio Cesar was forced to parry a long-range shot from substitute Freddy Grisales.

Aldo Leao Ramirez also tested the goalkeeper with a low shot but Colombia was unable to find its way past a packed Brazil defence.

Midfielder Mineiro had Brazil’s only second-half scoring chance when his 25-metre drive was turned away by Julio.

Thompson claims ban is ‘petty’

FORMER Wimbledon semi-finalist Jelena Dokic has returned to Australia in another attempt to revive her stop-start tennis career.

The 24-year-old Dokic’s world ranking has dropped to an arbitrary position of No.9999 as she has zero ranking points.

It is almost two years since Dokic’s last serious comeback attempt, when she won the Australian Open wildcard event, only to bow out in the first round of the 2006 Open to Virginie Razzano of France.

It was Dokic’s only grand slam tournament since 2004.

She reached a career-high ranking of No.4 in 2002, two years after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals, before her promising career went into freefall.

Dokic, who holds dual Australian and Serbian citizenship and is now based in Zagreb, is understood to have arrived in Melbourne last weekend.

She initially changed nationality from Australian to Yugoslavian (and then Serbian) in 2001 after father Damir claimed the Australian Open draw had been rigged against her.

Dokic later fell out with her father.

Tennis Australia welcomed the talented baseliner back into the fold in 2005, although they have had only sporadic contact with her since early 2006.