Gabriel Mercado gave Jorge Sampaoli a debut win as Argentina boss as they beat Brazil 1-0 in a friendly at the MCG here yesterday
Gabriel Mercado, Lionel Messi
Argentina's Gabriel Mercado (left) celebrates a goal with Lionel Messi during a friendly vs Brazil at Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP
Gabriel Mercado gave Jorge Sampaoli a debut win as Argentina boss as they beat Brazil 1-0 in a friendly at the MCG here yesterday.
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The Sevilla defender's goal got his former club manager off the mark as he prepares for the challenge of rescuing Argentina's World Cup qualifying hopes later this year.
Sampaoli left Sevilla after one season to take charge of his home country with Argentina in danger of failing to make it to the finals in Russia next summer.
They are clinging on to the final automatic qualification spot in the South American group, but Sampaoli will be delighted with a tenacious display.
The defeat was Brazil's first under manager Tite and they twice hit the post through Gabriel Jesus and Willian. The teams held a minute's silence before the game with two Australians having died in the London Bridge attacks last weekend.
Brazil's evening got worse when Jesus was carried off in injury time after being elbowed in the face by Otamendi, an offence which went unpunished.
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