Brazil loses to England for first time in 23 years

England's Jack Wilshere is tackled by Brazil's Daniel Alves at Wembley Stadium.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

England's victory over Brazil was one for the ages. Well, one for the last quarter-century, at least.

Frank Lampard curled a shot in off the post in the 60th minute Wednesday night to give England its first victory over Brazil since 1990. Wayne Rooney also scored in the 2-1 victory over the five-time world champions.

"We've got to get to Brazil," Lampard said, referring to next year's World Cup. "But if we continue with that attitude and get a bit more flow to our game, we should be all right."

Fred had the only goal for Brazil, which had spent only two days in London with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari before the exhibition at Wembley Stadium.

Brazil blew a chance at an early lead when Joe Hart deflected aan 18th-minute penalty kick by Ronaldinho, the former world player of the year who returned to the national team for the first time since October 2011. England midfielder Jack Wilshere had been whistled for getting an arm on the ball as he tried to block a cross from Oscar.

"I am not disappointed - I am not sad," said Scolari, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title and was brought back in November to replace Mano Menezes.

"We aren't in the best physical shape yet but we will work on it," said Scolari, also a former manager at Chelsea. "I think it was physical problems that we had."

Wilshere, who was making his first start since June 2011 after a series of injuries, made up for his penalty on England's first goal. He threaded a precise pass into the penalty area for his teammate at Arsenal, Theo Walcott.

Though Walcott was denied by goalkeeper Julio Cesar, Rooney seized on the loose ball and slotted it through three Brazilians into the back of the net. It was Rooney's fourth goal in his last three games for England, and his first against Brazil.

Brazil evened the score in the 48th when Neymar intercepted a ball, which broke forward for Fred to put past Hart.

In the 60th, Walcott's cross was blocked by Dante. But the Brazilians didn't clear the danger, and Rooney was able to flick the ball to Lampard, who curled it off the post and into the net. It was Lampard's 27th international goal.

"It's my first crack at Brazil as a manager and I'm delighted to have been able to oversee a victory," England coach Roy Hodgson said. "It was an all-round performance from the team, there were some very, very good moments."