Brazil saved by Julio Cesar in Ecuador

Brazil drew 1-1 away to Ecuador in their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifier on Sunday thanks to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Julio Cesar, Fifa.com reported.

Ecuador outplayed the five-times world champions but were repeatedly foiled by the Inter Milan goalkeeper and then fell behind when substitute Julio Baptista scored in the 74th minute. Another substitute, Cristian Noboa, restored some justice by equalising in the 89th minute, after a pulsating game at the Atahualpa at 2,800 metres above sea level.

We knew it would be difficult and we didn’t play our best football,” Julio Cesar told Brazilian television. “Their players didn’t stop running for one minute, we stood up well until the end and the goal was a punishment for us all.”