Ronaldo hit a hat-trick of penalties as Brazil overcame Argentina 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
The win means Brazil have go above Argentina at the top of the South American group.
Ronaldo put Brazil ahead in the first half with a twice-taken penalty and he added two other spot-kicks in the 68th minute and injury time.
Juan Pablo Sorin scored a consolation goal for Argentina.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira defender the referee who was surrounded by irate Argentinian players at the end of the game.
“The goals were all normal, they were all penalties, and Ronaldo is still the player who makes the difference,” said Parreira.
In the night’s other match, goals from Agustin Delgado and Franklin Salas earned Ecuador a 2-1 win over Colombia.
STANDINGS
Scorers:
Brazil – Ronaldo 17pen, 68pen, 90+6pen
Argentina – Juan Pablo Sorin 80
Halftime: 1-0
Attendance: 50,000
Teams:
Brazil – 1-Dida; 2-Cafu, 3-Juan, 4-Roque Junior, 6-Roberto Carlos; 5-Edmilson, 7-Juninho Pernambucano (15-Julio Baptista, 75), 11-Ze Roberto, 8-Kaka (16-Alex, 75); 9-Ronaldo, 10-Luis Fabiano
Argentina – 12-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Facundo Quiroga, 6-Walter Samuel, 2-Gabriel Heinze; 8-Javier Zanetti, 5-Javier Mascherano, 14-Luis Gonzalez (16-Pablo Aimar, 61), 3-Juan Pablo Sorin; 19-Cesar Delgado (21-Mauro Rosales, 36, replaced by 7-Javier Saviola, 61), 9-Hernan Crespo, 18-Cristian Gonzalez
Ecuador 2 Colombia 1
Scorers:
Ecuador – Agustin Delgado 3, Franklin Salas 66
Colombia – Frankie Oviedo 56
Red card: Elkin Murillo (Colombia) 88
Halftime: 1-0
Attendance: 40,000
Teams:
Ecuador: 1-Jacinto Espinoza; 4-Ulises de la Cruz, 3-Ivan Hurtado, 17-Giovanni Espinoza, 6-Paul Ambrossi; 15-Marlon Ayovi (23-Mario Lastra 87), 20-Edwin Tenorio, 19-Edison Mendez (10-Alex Aguinaga 65), 16-Cleber Chala; 24-Gustavo Figueroa (7-Franklin Salas 50); 11-Agustin Delgado
Colombia: 1-Miguel Calero; 14-Luis Amaranto Perea, 3-Mario Yepes, 2-Ivan Cordoba, 20-Gerardo Bedoya (7-David Ferreira 78); 6-Fabian Vargas, 17-Juan Carlos Ramirez, 13-John Viafara (4-Alex Viveros 46), 8-Frankie Oviedo, 19-Arnulfo Valentierra (11-Elkin Murillo 70); 18-Luis Gabriel Rey
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina).
