Robinho's 65th minute strike was enough to settle a lacklustre encounter at Croke Park in Brazil's favour tonight and send the Republic of Ireland back to the grindstone of the managerial hunt.
A glamour friendly against the South Americans could hardly have come at a better time for the beleaguered FAI, but the promised sunshine football hardly flowed and only the Real Madrid striker managed to lift the gloom.
The Irish put up a spirited performance, with Kevin Doyle heading onto the roof of the net when the game was goalless and wingers Aiden McGeady and the returning Damien Duff both impressing with penetrating runs.
But on Thursday the Brazilians will jet off to warmer climes and leave caretaker boss Don Givens to face more searching questions about the ongoing attempts to find a successor to Steve Staunton.
Brazil coach Dunga had named a starting line-up featuring the likes of Chelsea's Alex and Arsenal's Gilberto, but committed Irish defending largely kept them at bay.
In front of a colourful travelling support, the Brazilians had a chance in the seventh minute after Robinho was fouled by Lee Carsley, but Diego's free-kick was saved low by Shay Given.
The visitors predictably dominated possession, but lacked some of their usual sparkle - Robinho resorting to an ambitious long-range volley in the 18th minute, which soared over Given's bar.
Celtic's McGeady was flourishing in the space afforded him in the left flank, but was guilty of squandering the final ball.
The game was yet to catch alight in near-freezing conditions although there was no shortage of sweat amongst the Irish backline, as they continued to suffocate most of the Brazilian attacks inside their box.
McGeady produced a moment of magic in the 37th minute when he skipped around two Brazilian defenders and fired a deep cross which Luisao did well to hack out of the six-yard box.
At the other end, Josue drove straight at Given from a tight angle at point-blank range, but there remained precious little for either set of supporters to get excited about.
Fabiano sought to lift the spirits with a clever curling shot three minutes before the break, but, with Given back-pedalling, the ball dipped just the wrong side of the post.
The Irish almost grabbed the lead out of nothing in the 49th minute, when captain Robbie Keane cut the Brazilian defence in two with a brilliant through-ball, but it was just too strong for Duff and keeper Julio Cesar got there first.
Givens' men enjoyed their best spell of the match just before the hour mark, with Kelly's right-wing cross setting up a chance for substitute Darren Potter on the edge of the box, who mis-kicked badly.
Moments later Kevin Kilbane - after great skill down the left - sent in a more lofted ball towards Doyle, but although the Reading man got his head to it, he directed it onto the roof of the net.
As the game belatedly sprang into life, Given tipped a close-range Fabiano effort over the bar and Julio Baptista drove a low strike narrowly wide of the keeper's right-hand post in the 62nd minute.
Leonardo set up the onrushing Fabiano only to see him shoot into the side-netting, before the visitors finally took the lead in typically effortless fashion in the 66th minute.
Diego swept forward on a counter-attacking move and played in Robinho, who tricked the retreating Carsley before sending a delicate effort through the midfielder's legs and across Given into the corner of the net.
The home side rallied in the dying minutes, with substitute Stephen Hunt almost playing in Keane, before the Tottenham man found himself free in the six-yard box only, for Julio Cesar to react quickest and save.
Rep of Ireland: Given, Kelly, Dunne, O'Shea, Kilbane, McGeady,
Miller, Carsley, Duff, Keane, K. Doyle.
Replacements: J. Murphy, Hunt, Foley, Long, McShane, Bruce,
D. Murphy, Whelan, Potter.
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Leonardo Moura, Alex, Julio Baptista,
Luisao, Josue, Silva, Richarlyson, Luis Fabiano, Diego, Robinho.
Replacements: Breno, Lucas, Renan, Anderson, Thiago Neves, Bobo, Rafael Sobis, Hernanes, Marcelo, Naldo, Rafinha.
Referee: Rene Rogalla (Switzerland)
