Brazil fans celebrate their country's victory over England .

SHIZUOKA, Japan, June 21 (News Agencies) – With two goals from Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Brazil qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup Friday, June 21, with a 2-1 win over England.

Brazil will play either Senegal or Turkey in Saitama, Japan Wednesday, June 26, for a place in the final.

However, Ronaldinho will have to sit out the semi-final showdown against either Senegal or Turkey after getting himself controversially sent off just seven minutes after his goal.

Brazil survived this controversial dismissal of the game's key figure, and deservedly won to become the first team to reach the last four, according to BBC’s online news service.

Brazil's fightback turned the match on its head after Michael Owen put England ahead in the 23rd minute with a cool right-footed finish past keeper Marcos after defender Lucio miscontrolled a lofted pass from Emile Heskey, who had seen his Liverpool colleague make the run.

It was the Liverpool starlet's 18th goal for England and his second of the tournament.

Thereafter, England's Brazilian jinx struck again with a vengeance as they failed to beat their South American rivals for the fourth time in four World Cup meetings, AFP said.

The two nations were meeting in the finals for the first time since a memorable 1970 encounter which Brazil won 1-0.

The Brazilians have gone on to lift the trophy on all three occasions they have faced England, the other meetings coming in 1958 and 1962.

England failed to qualify for U.S.A. 94, when Brazil bagged their most recent triumph.

The samba stars now look poised for a fifth success after overcoming what looked like their biggest remaining obstacle.

England, chasing a second World Cup success after 1966, failed to build up on the lead gifted them and were shell-shocked after Brazil, playing in their change strip of blue but with their style unmistakable, hit them with goals either side of the break.

Rivaldo struck a brilliant equalizer deep into first-half stoppage time and that marked a sea-change in the fortunes of both sides.

The Barcelona superstar slotted his fifth goal of the finals seconds after a brilliant mazy run by Ronaldinho.

Rivaldo didn't even break his run as he swept a left-foot shot unerringly beyond David Seaman and into the England net.

But if that goal seconds before the interval left the game poised on a knife edge it was nothing compared to what followed in the opening 13 minutes of the second period.

Paul Scholes fouled Kleberson some 40 meters out on the Brazilian right and Ronaldinho promptly flighted the ball over Seaman and into the far corner of the net after spotting the England shotstopper had left his line.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson withdrew Trevor Sinclair and sent on Kieron Dyer in an attempt to provide more of an attacking impetus.

But before the Newcastle star could make an impression, the Brazilian midfield were left a man short, Mexican referee Felipe Rizo Ramos showing Ronaldinho a harsh red card for a challenge on Danny Mills.

Brazil made a surprise change as Ronaldo gave way to Cruzeiro's Edilson.

England goalkeeper David Seaman broke down in tears seconds after the final whistle.

England gambled with a final throw of the dice in withdrawing Owen for Darius Vassell with 12 minutes remaining and Teddy Sheringham for fullback Ashley Cole.

But a Nicky Butt header over the bar was their best chance as the sands of time ran out on Eriksson's side, skipper David Beckham unable to conjure a last-gasp moment of inspiration.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had sprung a surprise before kickoff in leaving out former Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho despite his inside knowledge of the English Premiership.

But Atletico Paranaense's Kleberson filled in admirably.

Meanwhile, England captain Beckham said it would be an "absolute disgrace" if goalkeeper Seaman was made the scapegoat for the teams' defeat to Brazil.

Seaman broke down in tears seconds after the final whistle knowing it was his blunder that let Ronaldhino score direct from a 35-yard free-kick in the Brazilians' narrow 2-1 victory.

With most of the favorites already out, the South American superstars now have a great chance of winning their fifth world title, BBC said.

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