Brazil, who suffered a shock defeat against Ecuador last month, were jeered off the field by the 50,000 crowd at the Morumbi stadium after dropping to fourth in the South American group - below Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador. Peru remained seventh and only have a remote chance of reaching the finals in Japan and South Korea next year. Before a disbelieving crowd Peru finished the game on top, threatening to snatch a late winner wich would have handed Brazil a first-ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. The result left a cloud hanging over coach Emerson Leao, who has only been in charge for five games. Brazil's proud record of being the only country to have played in the finals of every World Cup is also in danger.
Nothing is easy anymore.
Brazil made sweeping changes in an attempt to reverse a run of results which has also seen defeats in Chile and Paraguay. They dropped captain Rivaldo and gave first caps to Alessandro, Ewerthon and Leomar. By the time Washington and Mineiro had come on as substitutes in the second half, they had five players making their international debuts. Brazil struggled against a well-organised Peru defence and their strikers, Romario especially, were repeatedly caught offside early on. Brazil took 31 minutes to produce their first shot when a Marcelinho Carioca free kick was tipped over by Miguel Miranda.