Brazil held 1-1 by Peru

Lima:

Five-time world champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Peru on Sunday in Lima, while Uruguay and Chile drew 2-2 in Montevideo in South America's third-round qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Brazil, which fielded superstars Kaka, Ronaldinho and Robinho, pulled ahead in the 40th minute with a brilliant long-distance shot from Kaka over the Peruvian goalkeeper.

In the 71st minute, a long-range effort by Peruvian Juan Vargas was deflected by Brazilian captain Lucio to make the score 1-1.

To make matters worse, Brazil's central defender Lucio will miss Wednesday's game against Uruguay in Sao Paulo after seeing his second yellow card of the series in the qualifiers.

Brazilian national coach Carlos Dunga said at the end of the game Sunday that the result was "fair," and that he was pleased with Brazil's general performance. He admitted some corrections were needed, notably handling of the ball.

Peruvian national coach Jose Guillermo "Chemo" del Solar noted that Peru "could have done better."

"We should have won, but unfortunately it was not enough," said Del Solar.

Peru's Andres Mendoza said it is "always good to get a draw against such a good team."

In a game earlier Sunday between second-tier rivals for a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Uruguay and Chile drew 2-2 in Montevideo.

Uruguay pulled ahead at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo through Luis Suarez four minutes before halftime. Veteran striker Marcelo Salas equalized with a header six minutes after the break.

Salas himself put Chile ahead in the 69th minute from the penalty spot, after Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano was deemed to have brought down a rival in the box. Another veteran, Sebastian Abreu, made things 2-2 in the 81st minute of an entertaining game that could have gone either way.

In the South American World Cup qualifiers, each of the 10 teams involved play all the others at home and away. The top four finishers win a place in the World Cup, with the fifth-place team facing a representative of the North, Central American and Caribbean region in a playoff.