Romario scores four in Brazil win

Veteran striker Romario added to last month's hat-trick against Bolivia by scoring four goals as Brazil hammered Venezuela 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

The 34-year-old, whose tally on Sunday included a first-half hat-trick in only eight minutes, has hit seven goals in two games since being recalled after an absence of more than two years.

''As long as I get the chance I will continue scoring goals,'' said Romario.

The win, under intermim coach Candinho, left Brazil with 17 points from nine games as they completed the first half of their programme in the South American qualifiers.

It was Brazil's first match since the sacking of coach Wanderley Luxemburgo whose national team career sank amid poor performances and accusations of tax evasion and transfer irregularities which he has vigorously denied.

Nurtured hopes

Venezuela, who had lost every previous meeting with Brazil, briefly nurtured hopes of an upset on a scorching afternoon in the country's oil capital.

They made a lively start with defender Jose Rey testing goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni with a raking 40-metre free kick. But Brazil took control with five goals in a remarkable 18-minute spell during which they sliced through the Venezuela defence at will.

Debutant striker Euller opened the scoring in the 21st minute, breaking clear to score after Venezuela had lost possession in midfield.

Juninho Paulista added a second in the 29th minute with a diving header from a cross by Romario.

Romario scored the third two minutes later when Vampeta sent him clear of the offside trap.

In the 36th minute Romario received the ball on the edge of the Venezuela area, dribbled past a defender and scored with a low right-foot shot.

He completed his hat-trick by coolly converting a penalty, awarded for a foul on Euller, in the 39th minute.

Brazil let up after the break but still did enough to provide Romario with his fourth goal, scored with a simple close range header in the 64th minute following a cross by his Vasco da Gama team mate Juninho.

Romario missed a glorious chance to add his fifth when he fired over from close range in the 88th minute.

Venezuela were left rooted to the bottom of the 10-team group with three points from nine games.

UNI