Australia stuns Brazil, finishes third

ULSAN (SOUTH KOREA), JUNE 9. Shaun Murphy headed the winning goal as Australia beat Brazil 1-0 to take third place in the Confederations cup and claim shock victories over the world's top two teams in the space of eight days.

After frustrating the South American attack for 84 minutes, Murphy stole in behind the Brazilian defence to head the ball through goalkeeper Dida's hands from close range and set off Australian jubilation.

Despite losing a semifinal that it dominated against Japan, Australia left the eight-nation tournament with the proud record of having beaten world champion France and Brazil.

Australia hugged each other in dDisbelief, but alongside Murphy's goal most of the credit must go to the goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who heroically prolonged Brazil's goalscoring drought.

Brazil, which lost 1-2 to France in the semifinal, scored only three goals in the tournament. New questions are bound to be asked now about the future of coach Emerson Leao as Brazil goes into the crucial final phase of qualifying for next year's World Cup.

Australia soaked up long periods of pressure leaving Clayton Zane, goalscorer in the upset 1-0 win over France, to make the best of his rare chances.

The first half was a story of missed chances from the fifth minute when Ramon, one of the few successes of Brazil's presence at the Confederations Cup, fired a shot just past the right hand post of the Australian goal.

In the eighth minute, Washington's shot forced the English-based Schwarzer into a save close to the right post. But then Zane nearly delivered a knockout blow to the World No. 2 team. Josip Skoko fed a long cross into the penalty area and Zane just headed over the bar.

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Section  : Sport
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