Firmino fires Brazil in feisty friendly

Brazil extended their winning streak under new coach Dunga to eight matches as Roberto Firmino came off the bench to secure a 1-0 win over Chile in a feisty friendly at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Hired for a second spell in charge in the aftermath of their humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat against Germany last year, Dunga is restoring his country's pride in their national team and he will earn more plaudits for the astute substitution that brought on match-winner Firmino.
The Hoffenheim attacking midfielder's second-half goal capped an impressive few days for Brazil, who won 3-1 against France in Paris on Thursday and survived a bruising encounter with South American rivals Chile in north London to maintain Dunga's 100 percent record.
Dunga, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, is overseeing a period of transition ahead of the Copa America in Chile in June and his team have now scored 18 goals and conceded only two under his no-nonsense leadership.
In contrast, Chile's third defeat in four matches leaves them with plenty to work to do before their Copa challenge.
After Brazil's penalty shoot-out victory against Chile in the last 16 of the World Cup, there was clearly some lingering ill-feeling between the teams.
Chile's Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez was pictured in a relaxed mood playing with his dogs before a training session earlier in the week, but there were no creature comforts in his adopted home as a crunching challenge from Souza sent him crashing to the turf.
Chile's Miiko Albornoz sought immediate retribution and his crude tackle on Neymar left the Brazil captain crumpled in a heap.
Referee Martin Atkinson kept his cards in his pocket after those two offences, but he was less lenient when Albornoz once again targeted Barcelona star Neymar with a cynical foul.
- Fractious encounter -
Brazil defender Thiago Silva followed Albornoz into the book for a hack at Chile's Pablo Hernandez and an already fractious encounter turned spiteful moments later when Gary Medel bundled Neymar to the floor and then stood on the prone striker's right leg.
Atkinson had sent off Liverpool's Steven Gerrard for stamping on Manchester United's Ander Herrera last weekend, but luckily for Medel he missed the Inter Milan midfielder's ugly foul.
Neymar shook off the challenge and almost provided the perfect response to Medel's brutality when his free-kick was inches away from being finished off by Miranda.
Douglas Costa had an even better chance just before the interval when he controlled Marcelo's lofted pass on his chest, but the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder blazed way over.
A scrappy half ended on a suitably aggressive note when Neymar was booked for needlessly chopping down Gonzalo Jara and there was no sign of a drop in intensity after the break.
Chile's Pablo Hernandez appealed in vain for a penalty after stumbling under pressure from Fernandinho and his team-mate Mauricio Isla also saw a spot-kick claim rejected following Marcelo's challenge.
While shots on target were proving hard to come by, the booking count continued to mount after Miranda bundled over Sanchez, who had tenaciously harried the defender out of possession.
When Sanchez sent the resulting free-kick well over, it summed up a game in which even the flair players were more notable for moments of perspiration rather than inspiration.
Dunga made four changes on the hour, with former Manchester City forward Robinho among those sent on in a bid to break free of the Chilean defensive shackles.
The changes worked a treat as Firmino made a perfectly timed run through the heart of Chile's defence to meet Danilo's pass with a composed touch that took him around goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to slot into the empty net in the 72nd minute.
Chile nearly snatched a late equaliser, but Matias Fernandez's free-kick was pushed away by Jefferson.
Source: AFP