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Mexico win Confederations Cup

Mexico won the Confederations Cup on Wednesday, beating Brazil 4-3 in an electrifying final that ended decades of frustration for Mexico's long-suffering fans.

In capturing their most important international championship to date, the Mexicans handed the Brazil a defeat that had to bring back nightmares from France '98.

A year after defending champions Brazil lost to hosts France in the World Cup final, the scenario was repeated for the Brazilians before a crowd of 115,000 jammed into Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

Brazil, however, played the eight-nation Confederations Cup without most of its top stars, including Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, who led the South American side to the Copa America championship last month.

Brazil beat Mexico twice in that tournament played in Paraguay.

Mexico squandered an early 2-0 lead in Wednesday's final, but took advantage of Brazil's relentless attacking to put the match away with deadly counter strikes.

The win vindicated Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente who had predicted the championship, despite his many doubting countrymen.

"I said it and it was confirmed. The Cup was going to stay in Mexico," Lapuente said.

Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxemburgo attributed the loss to sloppy defending but said many of the young players he brought would learn from the defeat.

"Mexico beat us well and this will serve as experience for us," he said. "We're on the right track for improving in the future."

Mexico struck first in the 13th minute when Miguel Zepeda was fed with a pass through the Brazilian defence from Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Zepeda hit a high shot from the edge of the box that Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, who had only surrendered two goals in four prior tournament matches, got his hands on but was unable to keep from trickling into the back of the net.

Mexico increased its advantage in the 28th minute after Blanco set up Jose Manuel Abundis, whose low left-footed drive beat Dida inside the near post.

The magic the Brazilians displayed in the tournament's early rounds, including a 4-0 drubbing of Germany and an 8-2 semi-final win over Saudi Arabia, seemed to elude them for most of the first half.

While accustomed to adoring crowds in Guadalajara -- the Brazilians' home base in the World Cups of 1970 and 1986 -- Luxemburgo's squad faced a constant stream of boos and catcalls from the partisan Azteca Stadium fans.

But as the Mexican defence appeared to relax heading into the break, Ronaldo Assis was brought down in the box by Mexico's German Villa. Serginho coolly converted the penalty in the 43rd minute.

The Brazilians came out charging in the second half, again taking advantage of a distracted Mexican back line.

Ronaldo Assis, the 19-year-old sensation popularly known as Ronaldinho, fed a perfectly timed low cross that squirted by Mexican keeper Jorge Campos to the feet to Roni. Roni, who had just entered that game as a second-half substitute, fired into an open net in the 47th minute.

Just as the Brazilians seemed to be taking control of the match, Mexico struck. A shot from Francisco Palencia deflected off a Brazilian defender, and while Dida appealed for offside, Zepeda beat him again in the 51st minute.

Mexico appeared to put the game comfortably out of hand at the 62nd minute. On a quick counter attack, Blanco collected a long ball from Rafael Marquez, eluded a Brazilian defender and beat Dida with a low driving shot inside the far post.

But the crowd's euphoria turned into nail biting as Brazil cut the lead to one goal just a minute later.

Ze Roberto sneaked in behind the Mexican defense to drive home a Roni cross from close range.

Mexico, however, withstood the Brazilians' onslaught in the game's remaining minutes, helping bury fans' memories of countless heartbreaking defeats on the international stage.