Brasil 1 x 1 Peru 25/04/2001 - Romário

Throwback to 20 years ago, this was Romário's last goal for the national team in 2001. The diminutive striker wouldn't score again until four years later in his official farewell match against Guatemala. Here's what was said back in 2001: [The national team followed the script of the qualifiers almost exactly last night at the Morumbi stadium: mediocre football, a team without tactics, pressure from an opponent without tradition, fans demanding the coach's head, a shower of flags, and Romário as a consolation prize. But, by drawing 1-1 with Peru, the Brazilian national team achieved something that seemed impossible: to worsen even further in a competition where they have been performing very poorly.] With yesterday's result, the team led by Emerson Leão, which in its previous game suffered a historic defeat to Ecuador, fell to fourth place in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and once again had its qualification for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan threatened. This time, not even Romário's opportunism and experience saved Emerson Leão's revamped Brazilian team from a humiliating defeat. The Vasco striker scored in the 20th minute of the second half, but the Peruvian team equalized 12 minutes later. Tonight's 1-1 draw at Morumbi was one of Brazil's worst performances. The Vasco striker remains the top scorer in the qualifiers, now with 8 goals. The stands, in unison, demanded Leão's departure. In his first match for the Brazilian national team at Morumbi stadium, Romário tried to control the situation, asking for support from the São Paulo fans before the start of the game. The top scorer in the South American qualifiers, with eight goals, gave up when summarizing the situation at the end of the match. "The moment is not easy," he said. "If the qualifiers ended today, we would be qualified. But today nobody respects the Brazilian national team anymore. There are no easy opponents anymore. We have to play better football." #Romario #RomarioFaria #RomarioDeSouzaFaria #R11 #Brazil #Peru #2001 #Qualifiers #20Years #Shorty #Romario11 #Brazil