Brazil were made to work hard for a 2-0 win yesterday over a Zambia side whose coach quit last week.

The World Cup hosts had to wait nearly an hour before Oscar and Dede scored in a seven-minute spell in Beijing, the unlikely venue for the first meeting between the five-times world champions and the 2012 African champions.

Brazil, who made six changes from the team who beat South Korea 2-0 on Saturday, dominated the game but struggled to create openings.

Neymar had the best first-half effort when he burst through the Zambia defence and saw his shot saved by keeper Kennedy Mweene.

Mweene also did well to save at the feet of Daniel Alves after half-time but could do nothing to keep out Oscar’s effort from just outside the area as it took a deflection and looped into the net on 59 minutes.

Defender Dede headed the second from a free-kick but Zambia refused to stop chasing Brazil and kept the scoreline respectable.