Fred ends goal drought

Rio de Janiero: Fluminense coach Cristovao Borges has hailed the return to form of Fred after the striker ended his goal drought with a brace in the Brazilian team`s 4-0 victory over Sport.

The 30-year-old was widely criticised after scoring just once in Brazil`s ill-fated 2014 World Cup campaign, reports Xinhua. He entered the fixture with just two goals from eight matches in Brazil`s Serie A this season. But he answered his critics with a goal in each half at the Maracana stadium as Fluminense consolidated fifth spot in Brazil`s top-flight standings. "He is a very important player to us - an idol, a leader with a highly professional attitude. His teammates look up to him," Borges said Monday. "We believe in him. He shouldered a lot of the blame during the World Cup. But after these two goals he has his confidence back." Fred announced his international retirement after Brazil`s 1-7 World Cup semifinal defeat to Germany.