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Lionel Messi misses penalty as Brazil defeats Argentina, Suarez returns

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(CNN)– Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Brazil defeated Argentina 2-0

in the Superclasico de Las Americas friendly fixture in Beijing

Saturday.

Goals either side of half-time from Diego Tardelli ensured Brazil

trumped its great South American rival for the first time since 2012.

A mix up in the Argentina defense enabled Atletico Miniero midfielder

Tardelli to carefully place a volley beyond Argentina keeper Sergio

Romero after 28 minutes.

Messi then had the chance to draw la Albiceleste level after Angel Di

Maria was brought down in the box just before half time. But the

Barcelona star's tame penalty was easily saved by Jeferson in the

Brazil goal.

An unmarked Tardelli put Brazil out of sight when he took advantage of

yet more poor Argentina defending to nod in an Oscar corner after 64

minutes.

While not a competitive fixture, the result marks Brazil's third

consecutive win since its disastrous exit at the hands of Germany at

the 2014 World Cup.

A Selecao has made wholesale changes to its football operation since

that 7-1 semi-final humiliation in July.

Former midfield star and manager at the 2010 World Cup in South

Africa, Dunga, has replaced Luis Felipe Scolari as coach while players

such as Kaka and Robinho have been recalled to the squad after missing

the World Cup.

Suarez makes international return

Luis Suarez returned to international football for the first time

since biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil

earlier this year and set up Uruguay's only goal in a 1-1 friendly

draw against Saudi Arabia Friday.

The Barcelona striker was initially banned from all football activity

for four months and nine international matches.

But an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport saw the initial

punishment altered to nine competitive internationals and allowed the

27-year-old to train with his teammates and take part in friendlies.

Suarez's 47th minute strike rebounded off the post before being turned

in to his own goal by Saudi defender Hassan Muath Fallatah.

Substitute Naif Hazazi equalized for Saudi Arabia in the closing

minutes to deny Uruguay victory.

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

I am a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist/Writer who has an interest in General News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle and many more.

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