BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Brazil’s players wept with joy inside the stadium, and Brazilian protesters were sprayed with tear gas outside it as the country’s soccer team reached the Confederations Cup final despite another wave of mass demonstrations on the
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Brazil’s players wept with joy inside the stadium, and Brazilian protesters were sprayed with tear gas outside it as the country’s soccer team reached the Confederations Cup final despite another wave of mass demonstrations on the streets.
Brazil beat neighbor Uruguay 2-1 on an 86th-minute header from Paulinho. The hosts, seeking their third straight Confederations Cup title, will play the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between World Cup-European champion Spain and Italy.
The championship game is Sunday and protests already have been announced for Maracana Stadium.
As thousands of anti-government protesters clashed with police nearby, inside Mineirao Stadium, Brazil was inconsistent, but good enough.
“It’s a new team and this is going to help us grow for the World Cup,” Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar said. “We know that we can face a very difficult opponent (and win).”
Diego Forlan could have put Uruguay ahead in the 14th minute, but Julio Cesar dived to his left to stop Forlan’s low penalty kick after Brazilian defender David Luiz was called for tugging the shirt of Diego Lugano. Only four of eight penalties kicks in the tournament have been successful.
Brazil took the lead in the 41st. Neymar brought down Paulinho’s high ball, and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved Neymar’s attempt. The loose ball trickled across the penalty area, and Fred scored despite scuffing his shot.
Edinson Cavani took advantage of sloppy defending to tie the score three minutes into the second half, intercepting Thiago Silva’s pass to Marcelo after a poor clearance by David Luiz.
Paulinho scored the winning goal when he got away from Martin Caceres at the back post and beat Muslera from 4 yards with an open header after the goalkeeper came off his line.
