Barça Legends win in Brazil

The Barça Legends team have started their season with a 2-1 win over the Seleção Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Legends in Curitiba, Brazil. Rivaldo notched the first and Saviola scored the second in the final minutes on a celebratory day in South America. 

The game was a fund raiser for the Instituto de Pesquisa Pequeno Príncipe, an organisation that conducts research into infant mortality in the region. Despite the nature of the games, both sides showed themselves to be competitive after an honorary kick off from Flávia Kurtz Arantes do Nascimento, the daughter of Brazilian legend Pelé. 

Free kick to take the lead 

Barça keeper Angoy was forced into a save early on, but it was the blaugranes who struck first. In the 14th minute, Rivaldo surprised opposing keeper Prass with a free kick reminiscent of those he scored in his time as a Barça player. 

Another Brazilian star making an appearance for the Barça Legends was Romário. The former blaugrana striker had not played with his countryman Rivaldo since 2001 until the game in Curitiba. Romário came close to scoring just before half time for Albert Ferrer's team with a typically outrageous volley that was tipped away for a corner by keeper Prass. 

In the second half the home side conjured up a brilliant strike to level things up. Richarlyson thundered home an effort from outside the box in the 50th minute, giving Barça keeper Guzmán no chance. 

Winning goal 

Both sides looked for the win, but it was Barça who found a way through. Nolito played in Saviola and the Argentinian finished coolly to make it 2-1 and round off the day with a victory for the blaugranes. 

MATCH STATS 

Barça Legends: 2
Seleção Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Legends: 1

Barça Legends: Angoy; Adriano, Déhu, Navarro, Sergi; Trashorras, Edmílson, Rivaldo; Saviola, Giovanni and Romário. Also played: Guzmán, Coco, Marc Valiente, Jofre, Soriano, Nolito, Okunowo.

Seleção Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Legends: Prass; Cafú, Lugano, Miranda, Richarlyson; Josué, Zé Roberto, Ricardinho, Djalminha; D'Alessandro and Edmundo. Also played: Secco, Tinga, Amaral, Meschini, Marques, Mancini, Washington.

Goals: 0-1, Rivaldo (min. 13); 1-1, Richarlyson (min. 50); 1-2, Saviola (min. 86).