Argentina 1-3 Brazil

Brazil booked their place at the 2010 World Cup with a comfortable victory which further dents Argentina's hopes of reaching the finals in South Africa.

An unmarked Luisao met Elano's free-kick to head the visitors in front and Luis Fabiano tapped in from close range after Maicon's shot was spilled.

Brazil keeper Julio Cesar denied Maxi Rodriguez from close range before Jesus Datolo scored with a spectacular drive.

But Kaka released Fabiano, who dinked the ball home to seal his side's win.

The top four teams in the South American zone qualify automatically, while the fifth placed team meets the fourth placed team from CONCACAF qualification in a two-legged play-off.

Brazil top their zone on 30 points, three clear of second-placed Paraguay and 10 above fifth-placed Columbia.

With three games left to play, that means Dunga's men are guaranteed a place in South Africa.

Argentina, meanwhile, are hanging on to fourth place after only their second ever home defeat in World Cup qualifying.

They have 22 points, with Ecuador and Colombia both just two points adrift.

Argentina benefited from Colombia's 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Saturday because had Ecuador won, it would have moved them up to fourth.

Diego Maradona's side face a daunting trip to Paraguay on Wednesday before hosting Peru on 10 October and travelling to seventh-placed Uruguay on 13 October.

Brazil welcome Chile on Wednesday and then finish with a double-header against Bolivia on and Venezuela.

The hosts looked to attack Brazil from the outset in Rosaria, Lionel Messi going wide with a left-footed shot in the 13th minute to rouse the home crowd.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead 11 minutes later when Luisao found himself in acres of space and powerfully headed a Kaka free-kick past goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

Brazil doubled their lead after Andujar failed to hold on to Maicon's strike from Kaka's pull-back and Sevilla striker Fabiano pounced on the rebound.

Argentina almost reduced the deficit seven minutes later when Rodriguez steered Carlos Tevez's right-wing cross goal-bound but Cesar was equal to it.

Andujar spared the home team further embarrassment with a number of fine saves before they hauled themselves back into contention when Napoli midfielder Datolo beat Cesar with a rasping effort from about 30 yards.

Argentina's optimism was short-lived, however, as Fabiano met Kaka's slide-rule pass and lifted the the ball over an advancing Andujar.

Several chances came and went but Argentina's first home World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993, when they lost 5-0 to Colombia in Buenos Aires, was never in doubt.

Federer & Nadal enjoy quick wins

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in good form as both enjoyed straight-sets wins at the US Open on Wednesday.

World number three Nadal swept past Richard Gasquet in round one on his return to Grand Slam action.

The third seed, who missed Wimbledon with tendonitis in both knees, powered to a 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory to set up a match against Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.

And Federer, playing his second-round match, beat Germany's Simon Greul 6-3 7-5 7-5 in the night session.

Greul, the world number 65, put up a good effort in such a high-profile match and had two set points in the second set, but Federer came up with a superb backhand volley and a big serve.

And the Swiss had to fight back from 3-0 down in the third set to seal victory in one hour 58 minutes and extend his unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 36 matches, stretching back to 2003.

"I saw him play a couple of times, he played really, really well," said Federer. "I knew I could be in for a battle. I thought the level was really high. There was a lot of intensity."

Federer will next face 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt in a repeat of their US Open final of 2004, after the Australian beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday.

"There's not a lot of guys that really have been able to beat him - especially here," said the Australian, who has lost his last 13 matches against Federer. "He started his run here in 2004 in the final, so it would be nice if I could finish it.

"He's obviously extremely confident at the moment, coming off the last two majors as well. It's going to take someone to play a great match against him, especially three-out-of-five sets."

Looking ahead to facing Hewitt, five-time champion Federer added: "I'm intrigued about this match-up. It's an incredible run for me against him. I cannot believe I've beaten him that many times in a row. But we had some close ones during those 13.

"Everyone starts from zero, unfortunately for me now. I hope I can win again."

As the day session drew to a close, sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro beat fellow Argentine Juan Monaco 6-3 6-3 6-1 with an impressive display, and ninth seed Gilles Simon of France defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

Earlier, France's Gael Monfils, the 13th seed, cruised into the second round with a 6-1 6-4 6-3 win over compatriot Jeremy Chardy.

Monfils, who won in just 95 minutes, said: "I think my best thing was I tried to play inside the court, tried to be more aggressive, and not going too far off my baseline, so this was good."

Former champion Marat Safin bowed out of his final Grand Slam with a straight-sets defeat by Austria's Jurgen Melzer.

But all eyes were on Nadal, and the condition of his knees, when he emerged on court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The last time the 23-year-old competed in a major, he saw his four-year French Open reign end in the fourth round at Roland Garros and, during his enforced absence, he also lost his number one ranking.

His opponent Gasquet has also just returned to the Tour, following a two-month suspension after he tested positive for cocaine.

Gasquet has played only two matches since his ban ended and he was far too rusty to trouble Nadal, who did not have to face a single break point as he eased through.

"It felt good," Nadal said afterwards. "I served well in the important moments. I played very well on my backhand, which is very important in my game.

"I'm very happy to be in the second round. Nicolas [Kiefer] is a very good player. I have to play well if I want to have a chance to win."

The Spaniard added: "I am very happy to be here another time, and I am enjoying much more practising with a better attitude than when I was playing in the clay season with pain in the knees every day.

"I went on court without pressure, just thinking I feel I'm a very lucky guy to be here playing and enjoying this sport."

England suffer Denly injury scare

England opener Joe Denly could miss Friday's opening one-day international against Australia after suffering a left knee injury playing football.

The 23-year-old got his studs caught in the turf and his knee buckled when he collided with Owais Shah during a training session at The Oval.

The clash left Denly injured on the ground for 15 minutes before he was helped off by physio Kirk Russell.

The right-hander will have a scan to determine the extent of the injury.

England's head of security Reg Dickason also assisted the Kent player.

Team spokesman James Avery told BBC Sport: "He is being assessed by the physio and until that happens we won't know any more about Joe's condition.

"We're waiting for medical staff to have a close look at him."

England's tradition of playing football before matches has been criticised in the past. Matt Prior suffered a back spasm while playing football during England's warm-up for the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

James Anderson twisted his ankle during an end-of-day warm-down at Wellington in March 2008 and Ian Bell turned his right ankle in the indoor nets ahead of this summer's third Test at Edgbaston.

However, England's Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood was not prepared to let his bowlers run over a damp patch of ground in the controversially abandoned international at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Ashes hero Andrew Strauss takes the captaincy reins again on Friday, and he said the team management would now consider banning football as part of their warm-up.

Strauss said: "The reason we play football is that it's something the guys enjoy and it gets the blood flowing.

"We feel, or certainly had felt, if it's played sensibly the chance of getting injured is very slight. Unfortunately it has happened today and if people are going to get injured playing it, we've got to look at it.

"Up to this stage we have never had anyone missing cricket through playing it. You'd like to think players would be sensible enough in the warm-up not to take it too far.

"When we do play football we have a no tackling rule. Any injury is not ideal, you want a full squad to choose from."

Denly made his England debut and top-scored with 67 against Ireland in Belfast in August before being dismissed for a first-ball duck in the abandoned first Twenty20 international against Australia at Old Trafford.

England seem likely to call Jonathan Trott, the batting hero of the Ashes decider, into the 14-man squad assuming Denly's injury is a serious one.

Strauss and out-of-form Essex batsman Ravi Bopara are likely to resume the opening partnership they established during England's 2-0 series win over West Indies earlier in the summer.

Meanwhile, a decent forecast for Friday's match will be a relief following the dreadful weather in Manchester - though an under-prepared wicket remains a possible factor for the floodlit contest.

Michael Clarke will lead Australia while Ricky Ponting rests up for the opening three contests in the seven-match rubber.

Australia's left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken, a one-day specialist, said: "The last ODI series here was a draw and the last time England was in Australia England won.

"Realistically we haven't beaten England in a one-day series either here or in Australia for the last two times so we are trying to get revenge for those two."

"We haven't been consistent enough in our one-day form, there has been glimmers of what we can do. We have put on good performances in Dubai [against the West Indies] and we played well at the end of the South Africa tour.

"But the consistency that we have prided ourselves on for as long as we can remember is probably not as good as we have expected it to be."

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England squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.

Australia (from): Michael Clarke (captain), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.