Miranda slots late Brazil goal

– Brazil snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over Argentina with an injury-time header from Miranda in a friendly match in front of a sell-out crowd in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The Inter Milan centre-back was left all alone to thump in a 93rd-minute effort from a Neymar corner when the match between the fierce South American rivals seemed destined for a stalemate.

The lapse spoiled an otherwise strong defensive performance from Argentina.

He may be 34, but Miranda – who has played in France and Spain – says he is far from done in the yellow shirt of Brazil.

“Despite my age I’ve been able to show that I’m in good physical shape and, of course, I want to keep playing for the national team because I still have a lot to show in this jersey,” he said.

It was the 105th time the South American arch-rivals have faced each other in an official match, with Brazil marginally ahead on 41 wins to 38, with 26 draws.

The two sides last met in June 2017 in a friendly in Australia, won 1-0 by Argentina, but Brazil romped to a 3-0 success in their last competitive fixture, a World Cup qualifier in November 2016. –

Jeddah