Brazil's media yesterday criticised the nation's shock World Cup defeat against Ecuador, branding the South America zone qualifying upset a "national disgrace."

Striker Agustin Delgado scored his fifth goal of the competition and possibly the most important in his country's soccer history as Ecuador won 1-0 at high altitude in Quito.

"And now Brazil lose against Ecuador," lamented the Folha de Sao Paulo daily. "The only country that has not beaten us in South America is Venezuela - who are the region's whipping boys," the paper added in the wake of Brazil's 1-0 loss in Quito on Wednesday.

"Ecuador even started to (chant) `Ole' against us," Folha added. The defeat was the first time in 18 matches Brazil had lost to Ecuador, leaving Brazilian fans stunned. "Now all we need to do is lose against Venezuela," the sports daily Lance! suggested cynically on its front page.

Most papers criticised Brazil's football authorities as well as the current crop of internationals, who have now lost three of their 2002 World Cup qualifying matches.

O Dia, describing the match as a "nightmare", said a select team which played in a charity match for UNICEF at the Maracana on Wednesday night could have performed better.

The Jornal do Brasil was equally scathing. "National disgrace," the headline read, blaming defeat "on the passivity and lack of inspiration from the players, Romario included."

Meanwhile, Argentina hammered Venezuela 5-0 in Buenos Aires on a night when midfielder Diego Simeone became the first player to make 100 full international appearances for them.

Across the River Plate in Montevideo, Paraguay won 1-0 away to Uruguay and left the losers in danger of missing out on the World Cup for a third successive time.

Brazil are still in little danger of failing to qualify.

Peru remain rank outsiders despite beating Chile 3-1 on Tuesday.