Agence France Presse

Leipzig, June 17:

World Cup holders Brazil outclassed European champions Greece to win 3-0 in the Confederations Cup on Thursday with the rising star of world football, Robinho, among the scorers. The Brazilians’ first match in this tournament had been eagerly awaited and they did not disappoint as they pulled a poor Greek side apart with skill and flair. Adriano smashed a shot from the corner of the penalty area past the dive of Greek goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis to open the scoring in the 41st minute. Then 21-year-old Robinho slotted in the ball from Gilberto’s low cross in the first minute of the second half. It was the first of what will surely be many goals in Europe for the striker rumoured to be moving from Santos to Real Madrid.

Juninho Pernambucano, a substitute, lifted a free kick over the Greek wall for the third goal in the 81st minute. The game ended as a contest after the second goal, although Ronaldinho found a hole in the wall from a free-kick but the Greek keeper was alert. Their job done, Ronaldinho and Adriano were among the players replaced as the game entered the final 20 minutes. Earlier, a touch of class from Brazilian-born Zinha helped Mexico come from behind to beat Japan 2-1. Mexico, trailing to Atsushi Yanagisawa’s 12th minute tap-in and struggling to get through a packed midfield, got their equaliser six minutes before the break when Zinha sent a perfectly-flighted shot into the top right corner from over 20 yards. Mexico dominated for the remainder of the game and clinched victory when Jose Fonseca leapt and twisted in the air to guide in a Luis Perez cross in the 64th minute.