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Brace: Brazil international Diego Tardelli. Jeff Zelevansky

Tardelli scores twice as Brazil beat Argentina in Superclasico de las Americas

The old rivals met in Beijing earlier.

DIEGO TARDELLIโ€™S FIRST two international goals helped Brazil to a 2-0 win over rivals Argentina in Saturdayโ€™s Superclasico de las Americas.

The 29-year-old is Dungaโ€™s chosen replacement for Fred, following Brazilโ€™s woeful World Cup elimination and the striker opened his international account at the Birdโ€™s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Largely against the run of play, Brazil had the lead after 28 minutes when Tardelli scored his first Brazil goal โ€“ volleying home from inside the area after questionable Argentina defending.

Neither Pablo Zabaleta nor Federico Fernandez could clear Oscarโ€™s cross, with Tardelli taking full advantage, scoring more than five years after making his international bow to send Argentina on their way to a first defeat under Gerardo Martino.

Lionel Messi spurned the chance to draw Martinoโ€™s men level before the break, his penalty saved by Jefferson, and Tardelli put the game beyond doubt with a second after 64 minutes.

The Atletico Mineiro man headed in from close range as he bolstered his claim to lead Brazilโ€™s line ahead of the Copa America in Chile next year, wrapping up a third consecutive Superclasico in the process.

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Argentina started the brighter, with Sergio Aguero seeing an early penalty shout turned down when he went down under a challenge from Miranda.

With Martinoโ€™s men continuing to dominate in the early stages, Angel di Maria fired over the crossbar following clever link-up play with Erik Lamela.

However, Brazil began to grow into the game shortly before the half-hour mark and took the lead through Tardelliโ€™s smart volley.

When Zabaleta and Fernandez failed to clear Oscarโ€™s delivery, Tardelli peeled away and fired home the loose ball unmarked, with Sergio Romero not doing enough to keep it out.

Neymar spurned an opportunity to level when one-on-one with Romero before Messi missed the chance to send Argentina in level at the interval.

Danilo was rather harshly adjudged to have brought down Di Maria but Messi saw his penalty saved by Jefferson with Marcos Rojo failing to divert the follow-up home.
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Filipe Luis blazed Neymarโ€™s clever pass over the crossbar before Di Maria was uncharacteristically pedestrian when through on goal after Miranda lost possession - allowing the Atletico Madrid centre-back time to recover.

As in the first half, Argentina soon began to dominate possession but conceded against the run of play when Tardelli added his second shortly after the hour mark.

When David Luiz flicked on Oscarโ€™s corner, Tardelli was again unmarked as he stooped to head his second of the game and wrap up a third win from as many games under Dunga.

Tardelli was replaced by the returning Kaka, who made his first appearance since March 2013, having helped continue Brazilโ€™s positive start to Dungaโ€™s second tenure in charge while also leaving Martino with plenty to ponder.

Tesco are giving out free prawn sandwiches with copies of Roy Keaneโ€™s book

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